A man has been charged following a series of stolen mobile phones in Hertfordshire.

Boby-Ferma Stanescu, 27, of Barking in London, has been charged with five counts of thefts from businesses in Chorleywood, Rickmansworth and St Albans.

These incidents include:

• Friday 18 September, when a Samsung phone was stolen from an optician on Uxbridge Road, Rickmansworth

• Saturday 19 September, when a Samsung phone was stolen from a dry cleaner on Hatfield Road, St Albans

• Wednesday 23 September, when a mobile phone was stolen from a hair salon on Main Parade, Chorleywood

• Wednesday 23 September, when an iPhone 11 was stolen from a hair salon on the High Street, Rickmansworth

• Tuesday 1 October, when a mobile phone was stolen from an optician on the High Street, Rickmansworth

After the most recent theft on October 1, police were called, and officers detained and arrested three people – two men and a woman- before recovering a suspected stolen mobile phone which was returned to its owner.

PCSO Alan Waller, who was the first officer to attend, said: “There has been a lot of understandable concern in the community around this series of thefts so we are pleased to share this result with residents.”

Stanescu has been remanded in custody and is next due to appear at St Albans Magistrates’ Court on Monday, October 26.

• A 26-year-old woman, from Dagenham in Essex, was arrested on both suspicion of going equipped for theft and theft from person in connection with this series. She has been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

• A 28-year-old man, also from Dagenham in Essex, was arrested on both suspicion of going equipped for theft and theft from person in connection with this series. He has since been released with no further action.