Thief caught on camera brazenly walking into mosque and stealing shoes as people pray

The father of a boy who was left devastated after his special trainers were allegedly stolen while he was praying in a mosque says it is not the first time it has happened.

Mohammad Saeed, from Newport, claims his son was praying at Iqra mosque on Corporation Road in the city when a man appears to enter the mosque as worshippers walk around him.

Footage shows the hooded man looking around the building, then spending some time looking at the shoes left outside. He then appears to choose a £70 pair of colourful Adidas trainers which Mr Saeed says belong to his 11-year-old son, Ramos.

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The man then stands with the shoes and looks around twice more, before quickly leaving the mosque with the trainers.

It is usual practice in the Islam faith for prayer to take place with footwear removed, and so shoes are left in the reception area.

The man walked around in the entrance to mosque looking at the shoes for some time (Mohammad Saeed)

Ramos Gafour, aged 11, who allegedly had his trainers stolen while he was praying at a mosque in Newport (Mohammad Saeed)

“We are really annoyed and frustrated,” Mr Saeed said. “This is not the first time this has happened, it happened in the summer too.

“We keep the doors open to the mosque because we are welcoming and we don’t want to lock our doors.

“When we pray we all pray and we trust the people who come to the mosque. There is no-one outside to keep an eye out and there shouldn’t need to be, because we trust.

“My son was shocked and surprised when he came out and realised his shoes had gone.

“So was the Imam and the other members of the community. Because people who go to the mosque do not steal. It doesn’t happen, it’s not something you expect to happen.

“My son had to borrow a spare size nine pair of shoes to get home. He could have put both feet in just one of the shoes.”

Mr Saeed says the alleged theft happened between 5pm and 7pm on November 9.

“It is upsetting and annoying,” he added. “I am still annoyed about it now because we can’t buy those trainers in the UK. My wife bought them while abroad, and they are specially made Adidas trainers.

“We bought them for Ramos because he had an injury while playing football and so he had to have special trainers.”

Ramos attends the mosque five days a week in the evenings to learn about Islam and its teachings. Mr Saeed said he is concerned that such incidents will continue to happen.

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