Two brazen thieves caught on CCTV rummaging through pub-goers’ bags and stealing contents in London’s Square Mile have been jailed.
Majazy Latif, 28, and Youcef Aliouat were seen pinching a laptop at a bar on Cannon Street while the unsuspecting owner Ayotunde Ariyo stood nearby.
City of London Police and the “professional criminals” spend some seven minutes going through punters’ belongings in front of oblivious bar staff.
After ordering a drink, 32-year-old Aliouat pulls a chair in front of the bags - which had been left on the floor near the bar - in a bid to hide his crimes.
He and Latif then proceed to scour through the customers’ possessions until they come across a laptop - which they remove and place into their own rucksack.
Final seconds of the footage show Latif shamelessly sipping his drink while strolling to another part of the venue with the laptop stashed in his bag.
Latif, of Alvey Street, Southwark was jailed for 23 months after pleading guilty to nine counts of theft between August 6 and September 25 last year in which he stole almost £15,000 worth of items.
Aliouat, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 18 months for stealing nine laptops between August 14 and October 6.
PC Pradip Young said after the sentencing: “These are professional criminals, who took their time when preying on other people’s belongings and transferring valuables from their victims’ bags to their own.
“The thieves operated with audacity, standing by the bar and committing their crimes while their victims were just nearby having a drink.'
“Latif and Aliouat spotted an opportunity and calmly stole from others while blending in to look like other City drinkers.”
CCTV also captured Latif and a different accomplice stealing a laptop at a bar in Aldgate.
Mounir Ghilas, 28, of no fixed abode, was jailed last year for 18 months having admitted 18 counts of theft between August 5 and September 25.
The two thieves sat on a table next to a group of people, where Ghilas was seen taking the victim’s laptop out of the rucksack and placing this into his own bag before the pair left the venue.
Paedophile City of London police officer granted anonymity due to health concerns
Moment 'sneaky' thief steals laptop in London pub before police snare him in street
Two discharged from hospital after car ‘ploughed’ into pedestrians in Derby
Farage claims ‘whitewash’ after police find no evidence of Gorton family voting
