A brazen shoplifter has been caught on digital camera grappling with a terrified feminine store assistant after he leaned his complete physique over-the-counter to seize an costly cell phone.
Now the outraged proprietor of Apple Tech London in Forest Gate claims regardless of calling 999 within the moments after, no officers have but attended as a result of ‘they do not have time.’
The thief, who wearing a black helmet and biking gear, carried out the shameless motion on Thursday at round 2.30pm.
Apple Tech London mentioned the person forcibly took an iPhone 14 Professional Max, which has a beginning value of round £700.
CCTV from inside the shop reveals the person coming into the premises and chatting with the assistant for round a minute.
He seems to be relaxed, crossing his arms excessive of the counter because the assistant factors to numerous gadgets.
A thief, wearing a black helmet and biking gear, focused Apple Tech London in Forest Gate, on Thursday at round 2.30pm
The assailant spoke with a store assistant for round a minute earlier than immediately launching ahead and grabbing an iPhone 14 Professional Max from behind the counter
The thief and the store assistant grappled with one another, earlier than the thief lastly tore away
At one level, he goes to open the store door, presumably as a method of serving to him make a getaway afterwards.
He then briefly steps exterior, earlier than returning and resuming his place on the counter.
As he continues to speak to the assistant, in a single sudden second he leans behind the counter and grabs the cell phone together with his left hand.
The assistant realises what he’s doing and tries to cease him, ensuing within the thief spreading his complete physique over-the-counter.
Within the subsequent dramatic moments, the pair are seen grappling with each other and the counter shaking from the pressure.
Finally the thief prevails and takes off with the cell phone.
Visibly shaken, the assistant shouts and factors on the man, earlier than choosing up a telephone to name the police.
A second digital camera exterior caught the thief choosing up his mountain bike and heading off together with his loot.
Visibly shaken, the assistant shouts and factors on the man, earlier than choosing calling the police
The thief fumbles exterior and swiftly picks up his mountain bike to make his getaway
The thief will get on his bike and races off, as caught by CCTV exterior the shop in Forest Gate
Proprietor Mahamed Fahad posted the footage on X and mentioned this was the second time one thing like this had occurred and the police had not come.
‘They mentioned they are going to come after one hour, what’s the purpose if police come after anybody die[s]?
He added that the police informed them they might attend on Tuesday – 5 days after the incident.
The theft occurred amid a surge in shoplifting and cell phone thefts throughout London in current months.
Earlier this month a brand new map revealed almost 52,000 cell phones have been stolen within the capital final yr as criminals on mopeds and e-bikes use violence and distraction strategies to focus on victims.
The worst-hit borough was the Metropolis of Westminster, the place vacationers flock for theatre reveals and high-end procuring, with 18,863 reported incidents within the yr to December – up 47 per cent from 12,836 within the earlier 12 months.
Camden was the second worst affected, with 4,806 incidents, adopted by Southwark (4,376), Hackney (2,761), Newham (2,585), Lambeth (2,394) and Islington (2,117). In London as a complete greater than 52,000 telephones have been stolen final yr.
In a press release to MailOnline, Met Police mentioned: ‘At 5.37pm on Thursday, 27 June, police obtained a report of a theft at enterprise premises on Romford Street, E7.
‘It was reported that at about 2.45pm that day, a person had entered the shop earlier than stealing a telephone and assaulting a employees member.
‘The sufferer was spoken to by officers and an appointment was organized to acquire additional particulars. Officers met with the sufferer on Saturday, 29 June.’
The police added that enquiries are ongoing and no arrests have been made.
Anybody with details about the person within the video is requested to name 101, reference CAD: 6560/27JUN.
