Two serial thieves have been jailed after targeting punters for laptops and mobiles worth nearly £2,500 at pubs in London’s Square Mile.
CCTV captures Daniel Ramzi, 26, and Abderrahim Mamma, 29, leaning over a barrier at the Golden Goose in Leadenhall Market to reach Oliver Stephenson’s black rucksack.
The pair then went through it before removing his £500 computer.
Footage shows Mr Stephenson’s bag being placed back on the ground, before Ramzi and Mamma make off quickly along the street on January 15.
Earlier, Ramzi and Mamma stole Lilly Neugebauer’s £650 mobile phone from her coat pocket at the Five Guys fast-food restaurant on Bishopsgate.
They also pinched Pranav Prashar’s £800 laptop from a bag at the Cross Keys in Gracechurch Street on the same day.
On January 21, the crooks went into the Lord Aberconway on Old Broad Street, where Ramzi slid a bag out from a pile and replaced it with a different one to steal David Wallis’ £500 laptop and keys.
They then approached another group and carried out another bag swap before leaving.
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Ramzi, of Grange Road, Newham, and Mamma, of Crest Avenue, Grays, pleaded guilty to four counts of theft each.
At Inner London Crown Court Mamma, who also admitted an additional seven counts outside the City, was sentenced to 20 months in prison.
He was also handed a criminal behaviour order banning him from entering the Square Mile for five years.
Ramzi received 14 months at Southwark Crown Court.
Sergeant James Wood, of City of London Police’s Proactive Acquisitive Crime Team, said: “This is another great result in seeing two prolific bag thieves behind bars.
“We hope that these sentences will give reassurance to businesses and members of the public that we take such offences very seriously.
“Our warning to criminals - don't come into the City to steal bags.
“We will bring those committing crimes in the City to justice and we will use all of our resources to help prevent and deter any further criminal activities.”
