Police in Bromley are appealing for the public’s help after a man used a young boy as part of a distraction theft at a candle shop.
CCTV footage of the incident has been released and shows a man officers would like to speak to in connection with the incident.
On Wednesday, 30 August, police were called at 16:50hrs to reports of a mobile phone stolen from the Candle Shop in The Glades Shopping Centre on High Street, Bromley
CCTV footage from within the shop caught the man stand by the till and distract the victim by pretending to want to buy a candle. As he did so, he moved from side to side as the young boy went behind the till, took the shop assistant’s Samsung Galaxy S7 phone and tried to open the till. They both left the shop with the phone.
The suspect [ref: 256415] is described as a large white man, aged in his mid 30s, 5ft 7ins tall, with short brown hair and a beard. He was wearing a brown hat, brown jacket, blue jeans and black shoes.
The boy, who is believed to be approximately five years old, is described as white, with short brown hair. He was wearing a blue coat and dark trousers.
PC Ben Briselden, from Bromley Borough, said: “We are keen to identify the man in the CCTV footage who appears to use the child in their care to steal from those working in a candle shop. We would also urge anyone who witnessed the incident to contact us.”
Anyone with information or any witnesses are urged to call police on 101 or by tweeting @MetCC. To give information anonymously, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
No arrests have been made and enquiries continue.