A man was robbed as he was about to walk into a bank in Brent and had his bag handed to a waiting van driver who drove off.
Police were called to Abbey Road on December 21 after the victim, a man in his 50s, had a bag snatched outside the Natwest bank branch.
The Metropolitan Police said following the theft, the bag was passed on to a van driver who sped off when challenged by the victim.
The incident happened at around 12.15pm, and saw a brief struggle as the thief grappled the victim for the bag, before he fled the scene.
However, the man was followed by the victim who believes he saw the suspect hand over the bag to a man in a blue van.
The van driver was confronted but he drove off down Abbey Road.
Police were called by the victim at 12.23pm.
The man who snatched the bag is described as white, about 5ft 9ins tall and had an eastern European accent. He was wearing an orange t-shirt.
The victim was unable to give a detailed description of the van driver other than he was a black man.
Victim left 'very distressed'
PC Natasha Bennett, the investigating officer from Brent CID , said: “This incident has left the victim very distressed and we are determined to catch those responsible and put them before the courts.
“Abbey Road is a busy area and there would have been a number of people around on the afternoon of 21 December."
Anyone with information should call Brent CID on 0208 7333 244 or via 101 and @MetCC.
Information can also be reported anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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