A chino-wearing reveller was mugged for his mobile phone as he stood outside an Irish pub after closing time.
The unsuspecting victim was seen with his handset out chatting to another man thought to be a security guard.
Three crooks clad all in black then swarm around him.
One of them suddenly grabs his phone and the others block his path as he tries to get it back
The startled victim – clad in cream chinos and a dark jacket – then tried to give chase down the street but his efforts were futile.
It happened on Tuesday (Nov 5) evening outside Waxy’s Little Sister in Wardour Street, Soho, central London.
A shocked onlooker filmed it in a 34-second video on their mobile.
Local Flynn Robinson said: “If you see this happening to someone, don’t stand and film.
“Gather other people to out balance the gangs.
“Now who knows if they have knives.
“But if there’s a lot of you and you all charge powerfully and loudly, they won’t have time to react.”
He added: “Filming adds to the problem.
“A vulture picking its pray doesn’t fly away from a static camera.
“It flies away when something bigger than it charges at it.
“The thieves spot an opportunity and go for it as long as they have control.
“Loss of control happens when something unexpected occurs.”
One cabbie – called Steve – said: “Call a copper.
“Oh silly me there ain’t none.”
Another fumed: “Vultures waiting to prey on closing time stragglers.
“No police anywhere.”
A fourth added: “Their families must be so proud.”
It comes after model Astrid Wett had her phone pinched while filming a TikTok dance with a pal in Battersea, south west London, on Monday (Nov 4), as reported on Need To Know.
The Met Police has been approached for comment.
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