A thief is caught on CCTV casually snatching a teenager’s bike from outside a shop — 10 seconds after its owner popped inside.
The suspect, believed to be in his thirties, spotted the bicycle as he walked past, checked quickly no one was looking and pedalled away on it.
The victim, who is unemployed, today said he had only nipped into the shop yards from his family home in Liverpool Road, Islington, to buy cereal bars and had not locked his bike.
The CCTV was shared online to warn others not to make the same mistake.
The 19-year-old, who asked not to be named, said: “I was shocked and angry when I realised my bike was stolen.
"He stole the bike 10 seconds after I left it and I was in the shop for less than 50 seconds.
He added: “It should have been locked but I left it in what I thought was a trustworthy place.
"The shop has CCTV cameras and I go there every day.”
His sister, 23, said: “We’ve lived on this road all our life, and just can’t believe this has happened.
"He said he could see the edge of his bike from inside the store and he was just shocked when he went outside and realised it had gone.”
The £50 bike was a gift from a friend after his previous bike, a £200 present, had been stolen just a few weeks before.
The owner of the shop, Local Food and Wine Express handed CCTV of the incident to the victim.
Ali Doldur, 45, said: “It happens all the time … even if you’re just popping in there are often people around here just waiting for someone to leave their bike and they just grab it.”
Police investigating the theft last Sunday said no arrests have been made.
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