Police have released CCTV footage of a theft that took place at NatWest Bank, on East Street, Barking. A 46-year-old woman lost nearly £1,000 after she was targeted by a group of thieves as she waiting in the bank queue. The incident took place on 16th September 2017, at midday.
A female suspect had started a conversation with the victim who was in the queue to distract her, while a man waiting behind her bent down and stole an envelope full of cash from her bag. The victim only realised that she was robbed when she tried to deposit the £920 from the envelope when she reached the counter, only to discover that she no longer had the envelope.
Police have tried to identify the suspects but to no avail, and detectives are now appealing for help from the public.
The female suspect is described as being Asian, aged in her 20s. She was wearing a grey beanie hat, grey tracksuit, grey top, black shoes, and has long straight brown hair.
The second suspect who stole the envelope from the victim's bag has been described as someone who is Eastern European in appearance, aged in his 30s. He wore a cream-coloured t-shit, blue jeans, blue trainers with white soles, and had short black hair and a short black beard.
The third suspect has also been described as Asian, aged in his 30s with receding short dark hair. The suspect wore a black baseball cap, grey tracksuit trousers, white trainers, and a dark-coloured body warmer.
PC Matthew Trenfield-Brown, of the Met's East Area Crime Command stated, “This was a devious theft where the victim appears to have been targeted and fallen victim to a planned distraction theft, with three people seemingly working together to commit the offence.”
If anyone has any information regarding this incident, please call the police on 101. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
