POLICE officers have charged a 20-year-old man with robbery and attempted robbery after tens of thousands of pounds in smartphones were stolen from a Lakeside store.

Avram Stoica, of no fixed abode, is charged with robbing the Apple Lakeside shopping Centre store on 22 September, where a suspect took more than £30,000 worth of iPhone 17s.

He is also charged with attempted robbery, following reports a suspect attempted to rob an Apple store in Brent Cross, also on 22 September.

Stoica is also charged with two counts of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Southend Magistrates' Court tomorrow (Monday, 24 November).