An unsuspecting mum with her child in a buggy had her phone stolen by a pickpocket as she browsed for clothes in a shop.
The young woman was looking at garments on the rails when the thief approached her from behind.
She pinched the handset from her coat pocket while another crook watched on.
Her tot in the pushchair was just in front of her.
The victim – wearing a black head scarf – didn’t realise straight away.
The pickpocketing was captured on CCTV in Cut Label, in the Vicarage Field Shopping Centre, Ripple Rd, Barking, east London.
It happened at 11:05am last Friday (26 Sept), as reported on Need To Know.
The cousin of the victim – who doesn’t want to be named – said: “She was shopping and distracted with her young child.
“So they would have noticed her and then mugged her knowing she was busy.”
“The police have been informed, they’re likely to be going around stealing.”
One local said: “The victim is the one in the black head scarf leaning over, she also has a child in a buggy.
“The suspect is the one in the black leather jacket, she leans into the suspect to reach her pocket and take the phone.
“There were two pickpockets but one stayed back to look out for the other one.”
Another – called Linda Toliver – said: “No way would I allow anyone to be up on me like that.”
A Met Police spokesperson said: “We received a report on Friday, 26 September of a woman having her phone stolen from her pocket on Ripple Road, Barking.
“Officers reviewed available investigative opportunities including CCTV and forensics.
“The investigation has since been filed due to a lack of positive lines of enquiry.”
Cut Label has been approached for comment.
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