Two serial thieves have been jailed after targeting London pubs for rucksacks and laptops belonging to unsuspecting punters.
Daniel Ramzi, 26, and Abderrahim Mamma, 29, were captured on CCTV leaning over a bar’s barrier in Leadenhall Market to reach a man’s bag.
The pair, who struck at the pub on January 15, then went through it before removing a laptop.
They placed the bag back on the floor and made off along the street.
Earlier in the day, Ramzi and Mamma stole a mobile phone from a person’s coat pocket at a fast-food restaurant on Bishopsgate.
They also stole another laptop from inside a bag at a licensed premises on Gracechurch Street on the same day.
Six days later, the pair went into a pub on Old Broad Street, where Ramzi slid a bag out from a pile and replaced it with a different bag.
They then approached another group and carried out another bag swap before leaving.
Daniel Ramzi and Abderrahim Mamma were captured on CCTV leaning over a pub barrier in Leadenhall Market to reach a man’s rucksack
Mamma, 29, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court to 20 months in prison
Ramzi, 26, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court to 14 months in prison
The pair, both of no fixed abode, have since pleaded guilty to four counts of theft each.
Mamma, who also pleaded guilty to an additional seven theft offences outside the City, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court to 20 months in prison.
He was also handed a Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from entering the City of London for five years.
Ramzi was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court to 14 months in prison.
Sergeant James Wood, of the Proactive Acquisitive Crime Team at the City of London Police, said: ‘This is another great result in seeing two prolific bag thieves behind bars.
‘We hope that these sentences will give reassurance to businesses and members of the public that we take such offences very seriously.
‘Our warning to criminals; don’t come into the City to steal bags.
‘We will bring those committing crimes in the City to justice and we will use all of our resources to help prevent and deter any further criminal activities.’
