Two thieving moped bandits who snatched mobile phones before being chased by police through south London have been jailed.

On August 17 a moped was stolen and used in three mobile phone snatches within a half-hour period in Greenwich.

After being spotted by police, who noticed them acting suspiciously and "looking for people to rob", the two men fled on the moped.

With Jack Green the driver and Tarik Oliveira the pillion passenger, the moped was ridden dangerously fast through south London as they tried to escape police who were chasing.

The chase, assisted by a police helicopter, went on for around 90 minutes, before the moped crashed with a bus in Coldharbour Lane, Brixton.

The two suspects ran off but were caught shortly afterwards after a foot chase.

Oliveira was searched and found to be possession of five mobile phones, including those stolen in the three robberies committed just before the chase.

Green, 22, form Southwark, pleaded guilty various charges including conspiracy to steal, aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving, failing to stop after a collision, failing to stop for police officer. He was sentenced to 28 months in prison.

Oliveira, 19, also from Southwark, admitted conspiracy to steal and allowing himself to be carried on a stolen vehicle, and he was sentenced to 26 months.

Detective Sergeant Mark Kelleher said: "Green and Oliveira embarked on a spree of snatches where victims on their mobile phones were targeted.

"Criminals on mopeds think they have the upper hand because of their ability to make off from the scenes of their crimes and from police at speed, by weaving through traffic. In this case, a combination of good quality CCTV coverage, specialist officers, and the police helicopter meant that they had few avenues of escape."