A French-speaking foreigner, who stole four mobile phones from young female pedestrians, has been sentenced to one year in jail.
Mouton Roger, whose nationality was not disclosed, carried out the robberies from his motorbike, snatching the phones from his victims in the wee hours on rainy nights.
He was sentenced for robbery and covering up his ill-gotten gains by Jing'an District People's Court.
Roger came to Shanghai 10 years ago, but lost his job 18 months ago and became addicted to heroin. He stole to fund his addiction.
In one robbery, Roger, in rain cape and flat hat, approached two women stood on the roadside. He grabbed a mobile phone from one of them and sped away, a video showed.
He was caught last November 2, when he was riding near Datong Road and Zhongxing Road. Roger said he had sold an iPhone 7 Plus, worth 6,583 yuan ($957), to a buyer in the nearby area for 3,000 yuan, according to the court.
Roger, who was also fined 3,000 yuan, will be deported after his jail term is over, the court said.
