CCTV Footage Released After £920 Bank Theft in Barking
Police have released CCTV images of three suspects linked to a sneaky distraction theft at a Barking bank. The victims were conned out of £920 in a well-planned sting inside NatWest on East Street.
Blaggers Target Woman in NatWest Queue
Just before noon on 16 September 2017, a 46-year-old woman was queuing at the bank when a crafty woman started chatting to her. While the victim was distracted, a man lurking behind swiftly snatched an envelope from her bag.
The two accomplices then made their getaway, leaving the victim stunned at the counter when she discovered the missing £920.
Three Suspects on the Run
- Suspect One: Asian woman, 20s, long straight brown hair, wearing a grey beanie, grey top, grey tracksuit bottoms, and black trainers.
- Suspect Two: Eastern European man, 30s, short black hair, black beard, cream T-shirt, blue jeans, blue trainers with white soles.
- Suspect Three: Asian man, 30s, receding short dark hair, black baseball cap, dark body warmer, grey tracksuit bottoms, white trainers.
Police Appeal for Help
PC Matthew Trenfield-Brown said: “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. We are appealing for any information as to the identity of these three suspects.”
No arrests have been made yet. The Met’s East Area Crime Command urges anyone with information to call 101 or tweet @MetCC. You can also report anonymously via CrimeStoppers at crimestoppers-uk.org or call 0800 555 111.