Two men who stole laptops from pub-goers in the City of London have been jailed following a CCTV investigation. Majazy Latif, 28, of Alvey Street, Southwark, was sentenced to 23 months after pleading guilty to nine counts of theft, while Youcef Aliouat, 32, of no fixed abode, received 18 months for stealing nine laptops.
The pair were captured on camera at a bar on Cannon Street, where they spent around seven minutes rummaging through customers' bags. The footage shows Aliouat pulling a chair in front of bags left near the bar to conceal their actions, with the owner standing nearby unaware. They removed a laptop and placed it into their own rucksack, with Latif later seen calmly sipping a drink while carrying the stolen item.
City of London Police said the two men operated with audacity, blending in with other drinkers while targeting their victims. PC Pradip Young described them as “professional criminals” who took their time preying on belongings. “They spotted an opportunity and calmly stole from others while blending in to look like other City drinkers,” he added.
The thefts took place between August and October last year. Latif's offending spanned September 25, with items worth nearly £15,000 stolen. Aliouat's crimes ran from August 14 to October 6. CCTV also linked Latif to a separate theft at a bar in Aldgate, where he was seen with Mounir Ghilas, 28, of no fixed abode. Ghilas was jailed last year for 18 months after admitting 18 counts of theft.
The investigation was part of a City of London Police crackdown on acquisitive crime in the Square Mile, where such offences have been a focus for local officers.
