A prolific thief who targeted tourists' bags in London stealing £30,000 of cash and goods has been jailed for more than three-and-a-half years.

CCTV footage caught cunning Emilio Guerrero-Sepulveda from Chile, who flew to the UK on two occasions, grabbing people's bags as part of a crime spree preying on south-east Asian tourists at Heathrow Airport.

The 63-year-old was linked to a number of other thefts across Westminster and Hillingdon , including one occasion where he deviously draped a jacket across his arm to disguise taking a man's rucksack at Monica Vindar jewellers in Mayfair.

An investigation by Metropolitan Police Aviation Policing Crime Squad officers went through hours of recordings and caught him in the act between August and September 2015, and March and August this year.

Investigations into a separate series of thefts involving a man in Camberwell uncovered Guerrero-Sepulveda's name on some paperwork which led to identifying him in the CCTV.

Guerrero-Sepulveda was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison for 11 counts of theft at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday (October 12).

He was arrested as he attempted to board a flight to Santiago in Chile at around 9.45pm on Tuesday September 12, carrying £1,000 in cash which is to be returned to his victims.

His highest value theft took place in Selfridges in Oxford Street, where he stole a man's £8,800 camera bag from a chair in July this year.

His second biggest find was at Heathrow Airport where he grabbed a woman's bag from the top of her luggage trolley after she arrived from Nigeria, pocketing £7,400 of cash and goods in April this year.

Prolific thief Emilio Guerrero-Sepulveda steals man's rucksack at Mayfair jewellers

Others included stealing £5,000 worth of designer clothes, jewellery and digital devices from several other victims' bags, and the Mayfair incident racked up £1,140 including a Porsche cardigan, wallet and keyring.

He stooped even lower when he callously stole an 84-year-old woman's handbag containing £160 from her mobility scooter in a supermarket in Uxbridge.

The court heard how Guerrero-Sepulveda had previous convictions for theft in the United States and France.

Investigating officer PC Tom Blair, of the Aviation Policing Crime Squad, said: "Guerrero-Sepulveda is a prolific thief. He largely targeted people, he guessed were tourists, and whom he anticipated would be carrying large amounts of cash on them.

Prolific thief Emilio Guerrero-Sepulveda, 63, from Chile went on £30,000 crime spree targeting tourists across west London

"He took advantage of people who, unlike him, had come to the UK to enjoy the sights and make good memories, and instead turned their visit into a nightmare.

"The Met is determined to stop thieves like Guerrero-Sepulveda, to keep London safe for tourists.

"We believe Guerrero-Sepulveda was part of a wider network of tourist-targeting thieves and continue to investigate the involvement of others."

Police advise visitors to stay alert at all times and keep luggage on their person and in their sight.

Anyone carrying large amounts of cash should consider wearing a money belt and not keep all their money in one bag.

More on crime prevention advice .

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