The Met Police is re-appealing for help in tracing a man caught stealing a phone on CCTV.

The incident happened at around 4.35pm on April 1 2015.

CCTV footage shows the moment the suspect approaches the victim as she is sitting in a coffee shop in Wilton Road, Westminster , on her laptop.

Her mobile phone is positioned on the table next to her arm.

The man was captured on CCTV, stealing a mobile phone

The suspect distracts the victim by placing a piece of paper over the top of the mobile phone and in front of the victim.

The victim can be seen to say to the suspect "no thank you", and as the suspect walks off, he takes the mobile with him.

The suspect is described as being a man of Mediterranean appearance with short dark hair.

He was wearing a dark coloured jacket and trousers.

The incident took place in a coffee shop on Wilton Road, Westminster

Anyone with information relating to the incident should contact police on 101 or via Twitter @MetCC.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting 176849 as a reference.

Around 10,000 phones are stolen every month, often by opportunist thieves, and the Met Police have introduced their 'Be Safe' campaign, in an attempt to prevent crime such as this one.

They are urging Londoners to take the following simple steps:

  • Don't leave your phone unattended on a table or forgotten in a bag.
  • Look out for each other's phones when on a night out.
  • When using your mobile, be aware of your surroundings . Go hands free if possible, to avoid anyone snatching your phone.
  • Don't text whilst walking.

If your phone is stolen, the following preventative steps could be crucial:

  • Ensure all security features are activated on your phone.
  • Know how to identify your phone if it is stolen.
  • Find your IMEI number by dialling *#06# so you can report your stolen phone the police.
  • Register your phone on here , as it will help police return your stolen property.

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