CCTV captures the moment sneaky thieves steal pub-goer’s bag

This is the moment two sneaky thieves were caught red-handed stealing a woman’s bag in the middle of a busy central London pub.

Hecham Bourhar, 29, and Mohammed Kraifa, 34, were captured on CCTV lingering behind a group of friends sharing a bottle of wine at a pub on New Street on November 11.

Kraifa slyly used his foot to drag the bag along the floor away from the victim and closer to them within a few seconds.

Bourhar then picked up the bag and they made a quick getaway.

The victim, meanwhile, continued to enjoy her evening, having no idea her laptop and other personal items worth £2,000 had just been swiped.

The pair, both of Wood Street, were each sentenced to 18 weeks in prison for theft.

Bourhar was also sentenced to eight weeks behind bars for breaching his Criminal Behaviour Order, typically given to serious offenders to restrict what they can do or require them to attend eductonjal courses.

Bouhar was banned from entering the City of London – which stretches from Temple to the Tower of London – for violating the order.

Sergeant James Wood said: ‘By using all our resources in tracking down bag thieves, we have already made significant arrests which have led to a number of successful prosecutions.

‘This is another great result, with two bag thieves behind bars.

‘Our dedicated officers are working tirelessly to identify and apprehend individuals who target those who live, work and visit the Square Mile.’

In a separate case, officers arrested two men on suspicion of bag theft at a pub in Leadenhall Market on Thursday, November 20.

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