Police Hunt for Unusual Dancing Pickpocket in Nottingham City Centre
Nottinghamshire Police have launched an unusual appeal for information after a thief used what officers describe as a "bizarre dance" to steal a mobile phone from his victim. The incident occurred in the heart of Nottingham city centre, leaving both police and the public astonished by the suspect's unconventional method.
The Strange Theft on Clumber Street
The theft took place on Clumber Street in Nottingham city centre at approximately 7:30am on 16th November. According to police statements, the suspect first approached his victim and engaged him in conversation before initiating the peculiar theft sequence.
Officers detailed how the interaction unfolded: After greeting the man with a fist bump, the suspect began what can only be described as an unusual performance. The man placed one of his legs between the victim's legs and began jumping up and down in a motion that police have labelled a "bizarre dance".
The Sober Truth Behind the Drunk Act
Nottinghamshire Police revealed that the suspect's apparently drunken behaviour was likely an elaborate ruse. CCTV footage from a nearby McDonald's restaurant, recorded just minutes before the theft occurred, shows the man displaying no signs of intoxication.
This crucial evidence indicates that the suspect deliberately pretended to be intoxicated as part of a calculated strategy to make his victim believe he posed no threat. The police statement emphasised that this was a "ploy to trick the victim into thinking he was harmless and being jovial".
Police Warning During Festive Period
Inspector Paul Gummer of the City Centre neighbourhood policing team has issued a warning to the public, particularly relevant as we enter the busy festive season. He noted that offenders often claim to be performing traditional cultural dances while actually attempting to distract attention from their victims' pockets.
Inspector Gummer urged people to remain vigilant and "watch out for it happening to anyone else, particularly those who may be slightly too merry to recognise what's happening to them during this festive period".
Police have released a clear image of the person responsible for this distraction theft and are encouraging anyone with information to come forward. The force used CCTV to track the offender's movements prior to the incident, confirming he had visited a McDonald's restaurant shortly before committing the crime.
