Forum Topic

Phone theft at Pret this morning

Sadly witnessed some thievery at the Putney High St Pret earlier. Two women came in and wandered around the seated area, one of them was carrying a sign which I couldn’t read but presume was for begging, one looked at my table and also a man on another table next to me but moved on to two women working on laptops, she started some kind of conversation with them while displaying her sign (presumably somehow covering the phone she took) and then left. One of the women discovered her phone had been taken when it was far too late. It happened to another person in there as well apparently.So look out would be my advice!

Oliver Sampson ● 1965d13 Comments

Two phones in one short visit does make you think there are targets being set or pressure being applied by someone, there's a slight risk of being caught when one is stolen but two...They made very quick progress across the city (for London) according to one of the unfortunate ladies' iphone tracking so I think a car must've been used as you say.

Oliver Sampson ● 1960d

I remember that the signs outside tube stations saying Beware of Pickpockets were a bit of a problem because as soon as commuters read them they tended to pat the pocket in which they had put their wallet/phone etc...  So beware of that too.

Philippa Bond ● 1960d

Easy access to your phone when working.  Remember emails will be coming in on most people's too while they are writing a report/filling in figures on a spreadsheet on a laptop.  Unfortunately it is also easy access for everyone.  I know when I'm buckled into the passenger seat of a car I can't get my phone out of my jeans pocket at all let alone before it has stopped ringing.  Women's clothes certainly always used to be ridiculously impractical regarding pockets.  I hate having to have a handbag in a public place with anything valuable in it...

Philippa Bond ● 1960d

"there must be intelligence on this and the CCTV cameras are being scanned and utilised as we speak. At least we should hope so."To repeat my favourite quote:-“It's not the despair, Laura. I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand".(Brian Stimpson played by John Cleese, "Clockwise".)

David Ainsworth ● 1960d

Last time  the culprits seemed to be from a certain East European country (no names, no pack drill) rather like the professional beggars on PHS.  I have seen these  beggars decanted from the same car and a thuggish-looking gangmaster calling the shots and giving out the orders.Lets face it - a new form of organised crime is infecting PHS  and it seems to be the "territory" of one particular group- there must be intelligence on this and the CCTV cameras are being scanned and utilised as we speak. At least we should hope so.

Timothy Horgan ● 1960d

It's not new, and I've seen videos of laptops nicked of outside tables several years ago - and was writing rules about it! In fairness I think if one's inside using Prey as a office and making a series of calls or sending messages from a phone the inclination is just to put the phone down between each one. Possibly more of an issue - and better opportunity for criminals - with more people working remotely at the moment? After all, unlimited WiFi and heating in Pret, Costa, Nero's, etc for a cup of coffee. I wonder if it's more secure in independent coffee shops like Bakehouse, Arise, etc?

Michael Ixer ● 1960d

This scam was happeening a few years ago at Pret also - there are plenty of cameras at Pret so it should not be too difficult to identify and find the lowlifes.

Timothy Horgan ● 1961d

Showing off that they've got the latest £1k Apple I guess :)

Simon Knight ● 1961d

It's always baffled me why people leave their phones sitting on the table like that in a public place.

Frances Clarke ● 1962d

Distraction theft.  Other distractions I have been made aware of overseas include: bumping into you; crowd of kids jostling you; someone claiming you bumped into them or other pretext to suddenly shout at you; squirting stuff onto your shoe then apologising or bending down to rub it off; asking you for the time; and as detailed already, any excuse to put something under your nose.  Once you are distracted, an accomplice steals from you.  By the time you notice they are gone.  Be attentive and keep valuables out of sight.  And to note that a police specialist in this once told me they look for people patting their pocket, which basically tells them where your valuables are.

Heather Christie ● 1964d

That sounds spookily similar Duncan! The conversation seemed slightly aggressive from what I could tell so maybe that was just in order to buy time or make a distraction for the theft. I'll just be keeping my phone in my pocket as much as possible from now on I think.

Oliver Sampson ● 1964d

It’s a well used trick. Putting a map over the phone and asking directions is another technique. Usually at outside seating areas.

Freddie Francis ● 1964d

This  sounds  like exactly  the  same  theft  which  took  place  in  Pret  in  Russell  Square  a  couple  of  months  ago. I  was  sitting  near  two  seperate  people  and  noticed  two  women  with  signs  asking  for  money  then  moving  away. They  stole  two  phones  then. People  lay  their  phones  on  the  table  next  to  them  making  it  easy  to  steal. I  didn' t  see  a  thing. These  thieves  are  very  cunning.

Duncan Laird ● 1964d