Woman convicted after fooling hotel staff into handing over guests' belongings worth over £80,000

A woman has been convicted after she tricked hotel staff into handing over £80,000 worth of property that belonged to guests.

Anisha Anwar was reported to have a history of committing fraud.

Detective Sergeant Ian Cleghorn, from the Central East BCU, said: "This latest offence was truly audacious."

On 8 October, Anwar called a hotel in Hackney and pretended to be a distressed guest. She used the excuse of a family crisis to claim that she had to leave as a matter of urgency.

Hotel staff were so convinced by her acting that they agreed to send over ‘her' belongings, which included an array of luxury brand items that were worth over £80,000.

Anwar was responsible for arranging a licensed mini-cab to collect and take the bags to Maryland Railway Station, where an associate was waiting for them.

The real guests returned to their room and reported the theft the next morning.

Detectives embarked on an investigation to trace the cab and track the mobile phone that was used to make the call. They successfully identified the driver of the car, who gave them a description of the man who was waiting for the bags.

The detectives also used advanced forensic methods to link the phone to Anwar. The phone was discovered where she was living.

She was arrested and later charged on 11 November.

Anwar pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation on 15 December at Wood Green Crown Court.

She will be sentenced on 13 January 2022.

There is an ongoing search for the man who collected the bags.