Actor Genevieve Chenneour Fights Off Thief with Help of Friend in London Coffee Shop

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Actor Genevieve Chenneour, 27, was with her friend Carlo Kurcishi in a Joe & the Juice coffee shop in Kensington high street when an 18-year-old thief, Zachariah Boulares, allegedly attacked her, attempting to steal her phone. Chenneour noticed the thief's move and quickly took action, wrestling him to the ground and striking him with the phone as a crowd formed in the shop. The incident, which lasted for around four minutes, resulted in Chenneour being left with a concussion, which she suffered just before the Screen Actors Guild Awards. She has since felt constantly on edge and has even reported that her dog was traumatized by the event. The thief, Boulares, has pleaded guilty to the attack and is set to be sentenced on 17 June at Isleworth Crown Court.

Key Takeaways:

  • Genevieve Chenneour, a 27-year-old actress from Bridgerton, fought off a thief who tried to steal her phone in a London coffee shop.
  • The incident occurred in a Joe & the Juice coffee shop in Kensington high street, where Chenneour was with her friend Carlo Kurcishi.
  • Chenneour took action immediately, wrestling the thief, Zachariah Boulares, to the ground and striking him with the phone.
  • The incident resulted in Chenneour being left with a concussion, which she suffered just before the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
  • Chenneour has since felt constantly on edge and has even reported that her dog was traumatized by the event.
  • The thief, Boulares, has pleaded guilty to the attack and is set to be sentenced on 17 June at Isleworth Crown Court.
  • The incident highlights the rising trend of phone thefts in London, with over 70,000 cases reported in 2024, marking a 220% rise from 2020.
  • Phone-snatching gangs are using e-bikes to target unsuspecting victims, with over 225 stolen on average every day across the UK.
  • Data shows that there were at least 83,900 phone theft offences recorded in the 12 months to July last year, almost double the 45,800 five years previously.

Statistics:

  • Over 70,000 phones were stolen in London in 2024.
  • Phone thefts in London rose to 65,600 last year.
  • More than 225 phones are stolen on average every day across the UK.
  • Data shows that there were at least 83,900 phone theft offences recorded in the 12 months to July last year.
  • This is almost double the 45,800 five years previously.
  • The thief, Zachariah Boulares, is set to be sentenced on 17 June at Isleworth Crown Court.

Sources:

  • MailOnline
  • The Independent
  • AFP via Getty Images