City of London Police have released “unbelievable” CCTV footage showing the moment a bag was swiped from an unassuming restaurant patron as they warn of thieves across the capital.
The footage shows a man at a restaurant in the Bloomgberg Arcade, near Mansion House, who appears to be talking on the phone.
He uses his foot to slowly drag a person’s rucksack toward himself while they unknowingly talked with another patron.
The victim was sitting on a stool at a table, appearing to eat a meal while talking with another person sitting across from them. They had placed the bag next to the stool on the ground.
The offender then in plain sight, picked up the bag, while still holding a phone to his ear, and walked away.
Christopher Antoine, 44, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey on May 31 to 18 bag thefts over a 10-month period between June 2022 and March 2023.
The total loss to victims was around £23,000, City of London Police told the Standard.
He was sentenced to an 18-month community order, 200 hours of community service and a drug referral order.
City of London Police released the footage with this warning: “This CCTV footage might seem unbelievable, but it was a real crime in the city.
“Bag thieves will use any opportunity to steal your belongings.
“If you’re out tonight, know where your bag is at all times, and if you see anyone acting suspiciously, contact the police.”
Central London is known to be a hotspot for thieves looking to swipe phones, bags and expensive jewellery.
Some pubs in the West End have reported up to ten thefts a month, according to Time Out.
Meanwhile a mobile phone is reported stolen in London every six minutes, shocking official figures revealed.
A staggering 90,864 phones - equating to almost 250 a day - were stolen across the capital last year, according to stats provided to the BBC by police.
A total of 6,109 watches were reported stolen last year alone at a value of £139 million.
Police urge Londoners to be vigilent in crowded places and to be aware of their surroundings.
