Two men who have used the same deceptive tactics on multiple occasions to commit a string of thefts across the City of London are sought by police.

Today, officers from the City of London Police have issued a series of stills of two men they wish to speak to in connection with seven similar thefts which have taken place across the City in the last several weeks.

Two men have been actively targeting people eating and drinking in the City, usually at lunchtime, with the most recent offence taking place at the Balls Brothers in St Mary Axe on Monday, 22 August sometime between 1pm and 2.45pm. On this occasion a wallet was stolen from a jacket on the back of the victim’s chair and fraudulent activity was subsequently committed on the victim’s bank card.

Other thefts believed to have been committed by the same pair –

  • Balls Brothers, St Mary Axe – Friday 29 July, 1.15pm-2.45pm
  • Balls Brothers, Mincing Lane – Tuesday 2 August , 12.30pm-2.30pm
  • Planet of the Grapes, Bulls Head Passage – Friday 5 August, 2pm-3pm
  • Monument bar, Fish Street Hill – Saturday 6 August, 6pm – only one man involved
  • Gow’s Restaurant, Old Broad Street – Tuesday 9 August, 1.30pm-1.45pm
  • Balls Brothers, St Mary Axe – Thursday 11 August, 2.30pm
  • Balls Brothers, St Mary Axe – Monday 22 August, 1pm-3pm

Detective Constable Louise Price, investigating, explained: “ These two men use the same approach, with one man placing a jacket sleeve over his arm to conceal his actions as he dips into the pockets of people’s jacket hanging on the back of their chairs, stealing wallets while they eat and drink “Meanwhile the other man acts as a lookout, and they use any contactless bank cards from the stolen wallets immediately after the theft, generally going in the direction of the shops in the Bishopsgate area. “We believe the men pictured in these images can help us with our enquiries so it is vital that we speak to them both.”

Anyone who has witnessed these theft or who has any information about the people pictured is asked to contact City of London Police immediately on 020 7601 2999. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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