Moment thief sneakily steals bag from unsuspecting drinker outside London pub

Sid Rebai, 36, frequently targeted drinkers in the City of London, police said.

CCTV footage shows him pretending to be on the phone while he uses his right foot to grab the straps of a backpack – and drag it along the ground towards him. 

Rebai, wearing a black baseball cap, beige hoodie, and blue jeans, then picks up the bag and hurries off without anyone noticing. 

However, on May 6, the thief, who was known to police, was spotted at a pub in Aldgate by plain-clothed officers from the City of London Police’s Proactive Acquisitive Crime Team. 

They approached Rebai, found him in possession of a stolen bag, and quickly arrested him on suspicion of theft.

The bag and its contents were returned to the victim. 

Rebai was later convicted of stealing three bags from pubs in the City on April 8, and of stealing a bag and a laptop from a pub in the Minories on April 29. 

He pleaded guilty to six counts of theft and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. 

He was also handed a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) banning him from entering the City of London for six years.

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Inspector Dan Green, of the City of London Police, said: “This is another great result in seeing a prolific bag thief behind bars and returning stolen items to victims.

“Our warning to criminals; don’t come into the City to steal bags. 

“If you do, you risk being spotted by our plain-clothed officers, who will track you down, arrest you and bring you to justice.”