Shocking CCTV footage has revealed the brazen moment two thieves worked together to steal a woman's bag containing a laptop worth £2,000 from a busy central London pub.
The Brazen Theft Caught on Camera
The incident took place on November 11 at a pub on New Street. The video evidence shows Hecham Bourhar, 29, and Mohammed Kraifa, 34, both of Wood Street, loitering behind a group of friends who were enjoying a bottle of wine.
In a matter of seconds, Kraifa used his foot to slyly drag the victim's bag across the floor, moving it away from her and closer to the pair. Bourhar then quickly picked up the bag, and the two men made their escape.
Alarmingly, the victim remained completely unaware that the theft had occurred just feet away from her, continuing to socialise with her friends. It was only later that she discovered her laptop and other personal items, with a total value of £2,000, were gone.
Sentencing and Police Response
Following an investigation, the pair were brought to justice. Both men were each sentenced to 18 weeks in prison for the theft.
Bourhar received an additional sentence. He was handed a further eight weeks behind bars for breaching his Criminal Behaviour Order. These orders are typically given to serious offenders to restrict their activities. As a result of this breach, Bourhar was banned from entering the City of London, an area stretching from Temple to the Tower of London.
Commenting on the case, Sergeant James Wood stated: ‘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.’
He added: ‘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.’
A Continued Crackdown on Crime
This prosecution is part of a wider crackdown on such offences in the capital. In a separate but related case, officers arrested two more men on suspicion of bag theft at a pub in Leadenhall Market on Thursday, November 20.
The Metropolitan Police continue to urge the public to remain vigilant with their personal belongings, especially in busy social settings like pubs and restaurants.
