Pickpockets surround shopper in frozen food isle at Leyton branch

CCTV footage has been released of the moment three pickpockets targeted an elderly shopper.

The man, aged in his eighties, had £200 cash stolen from his back pocket as he shopped in the frozen food isle at Iceland in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, on July 20 at around 5.20pm. 

As the victim looked through the freezer, a man (pictured) dressed in a pale blue shirt and wearing a black satchel approached him from behind. 

The two other accomplices surrounded the pensioner on either side and attempted to distract him by pretending to shop for items.

As they rummaged through the frozen goods, the pickpocket leaned towards the victim and dipped into his back pocket three times. 

Throughout the act, he placed a jacket over his forearm to try and cover up the theft. 

As soon as he had stolen the cash, the female accomplice turned her back on the victim and the other man moved away. 

The 60 second clip has been released to the Guardian by the Metropolitan Police as part of a joint venture to identify suspects of unsolved crimes. 

Anyone who recognises them is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 4914726/15.