Shocking moment man's Rolex and phone are swiped while he enjoys pint in beer garden

Shocking footage has captured the infinitesimal that 2 men targeted a pensioner and stole his idiosyncratic items extracurricular of The George pub successful Hayes, South East London this week

An OAP was near startled aft 2 thieves snatched his Rolex and telephone from him whilst helium was sitting successful a brew garden.

The unfortunate was enjoying a pint astatine The George pub successful Hayes Street, adjacent Bromley, South East London, erstwhile a antheral hopped implicit the partition and dashed towards him. In footage which has emerged online, 2 men were filmed arsenic they parked a achromatic Audi connected a residential road. In the scenes that followed, they approached the pensioner arsenic they tried to grab his belongings.

The shocking clip captured the infinitesimal that the brace had go assertive successful their attack earlier they fled the scene. CCTV footage recorded the scuffle which happened astatine astir 2.39pm connected Tuesday. Locals person since slammed the 2 men online aft the video went viral. Oliver Lewis fumed: "He was sitting extracurricular a pub. Can't adjacent person a quiescent pint present without fearfulness of getting robbed."

Louise McNeely said: "Oh my God. This is terrifying. Phones are not that costly either, bargain your bloody ain one." Another commented: "Robbing the elderly? That's bottommost tier activities." Another, called David, added: "In today's world, it's sadly not worthy wearing immoderate bully jewellery erstwhile retired and about."

One idiosyncratic wrote: "Wearing a ticker successful London is similar having a bounty connected your head." Whilst others advised radical to deterioration a "cheap watch" arsenic they branded the 2 men "utter scum." Someone other added: "Recognise consecutive away, The George successful Old Hayes. Nice leafy small country usually, conscionable shows nary 1 nary wherever is safe these days."

Statistics revealed that a staggering 165,933 mobile telephone thefts were reported to the Metropolitan Police betwixt January 1, 2019 and December 31 past year. Phone thefts accrued by 20 per cent past twelvemonth crossed England and Wales, according to The Times. It is believed that London is the worst affected city, with videos emerging online of radical being mugged much frequently.

The Metropolitan Police told News Shopper that they are investigating the incident. In a statement, a spokesperson said: “Officers are investigating a robbery successful Hayes Street, Bromley astatine astir 14:40hrs connected Tuesday, 17 September. Investigating officers are alert of footage of the incidental being shared online. Anyone who tin place the radical shown is asked to telephone 101, ref 3643/18Ssep. To stay anonymous, delight interaction Crimestoppers.”