11.06.2025 14:40
Genevieve Chenneour, one of the actors from the Bridgerton series, bravely resisted a thief trying to steal her phone at a café in London. The incident occurred on February 8 at the Joe & The Juice café on Kensington High Street. Security camera footage clearly shows the moments when 27-year-old Chenneour defended herself against 18-year-old Zacariah Boulares, who was attempting to steal her phone.
In one of London's luxury cafes, astonishing moments unfolded. Genevieve Chenneour, an actress from Netflix's popular series Bridgerton, confronted a repeat offender thief who stole her mobile phone. The young actress and her friend heroically resisted the thief in front of shocked customers and managed to retrieve her phone.
The incident occurred on February 8 at Joe & The Juice cafe located on Kensington High Street in West London. Security camera footage, first published by MailOnline, clearly shows 27-year-old Genevieve Chenneour bravely defending herself against 18-year-old Zacariah Boulares, who stole her phone.
It was revealed that Boulares had previously threatened famous singer Aled Jones with a machete while stealing his £17,000 Rolex watch about 18 months before this incident. The thief, who was 16 at the time, was imprisoned for his attack on Jones but was released early from a youth detention center after serving only 14 months of his 24-month sentence.
With his identity and photo disclosed upon turning 18, Boulares was found to be involved in a series of crimes, including robbing Chenneour, who plays the character Clara Livingston in Bridgerton. The thief's extensive criminal history – with 12 prior convictions for 28 offenses – came to light when he admitted to stealing Chenneour's phone and assaulting another customer, Carlo Kurcishi, on May 29.
Exclusive footage obtained by MailOnline captured the moment Chenneour and her friend bravely resisted the hooded thief, who was targeted while walking their dog.
Describing her struggle against the young thief, Chenneour previously told Mail: "They didn't expect me to respond like that – but I did." Security camera recordings show Boulares secretly lurking behind the cafe, waiting for Chenneour's friend to leave the table. The hooded thief, dressed entirely in black and wearing a navy hat, snatches the phone while Chenneour's back is turned. However, Chenneour quickly springs into action and, with her friend's help, subdues the thief.
The brave actress, born in Yorkshire, reaches out her arm to prevent the thief from escaping and drops the phone from his hand. Picking up the iPhone from the ground, Chenneour uses it to strike Boulares, leaving the thief helpless on the floor. As bewildered customers at Joe & The Juice gather, the scuffle continues. The fight then spills to the back of the cafe, with Chenneour, her friend, and Boulares' images only reflected in a mirror for the cameras. After about four minutes of struggle, the defeated thief gestures at Chenneour's friend's face with his finger and leaves the cafe without taking the phone.
Chenneour also explained her experiences after the incident: "I had a concussion just before the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and I've been constantly on edge since then. Even my dog has been traumatized – now if someone touches me, he panics and tries to protect me. Having a coffee shouldn't require you to be this cautious." The young actress expressed her gratitude to the staff at Joe & The Juice for their support during and after the incident.
Boulares was tried at Westminster Magistrates' Court on May 29, where he admitted to stealing the phone and assaulting another customer. While the value of the stolen phone belonging to the Bridgerton actress is unknown, Boulares loudly declared "I am guilty" in court. He also confessed to stealing a black leather handbag from a customer at a pizzeria in London's West End on January 30 of this year. The defendant will remain in custody until a hearing at Isleworth Crown Court on June 17.
In 2024, it is estimated that over 70,000 phones were stolen in London, with the total number of thefts across the United Kingdom being around 100,000.