This footage shows the incredible moment a thief appears to hypnotise a shopkeeper before rifling through his pockets while he is in a trance.
The man, who is believed to be Eastern European, walked into the shop in Highgate, north London, and claimed his wife was pregnant and needed water.
He can be seen touching the member of staff on the stomach to demonstrate his wife's baby bump, before the man falls into what appears to be a trance-like state.
The shopkeeper only comes to after the thief has rummaged through his pockets and made off with the contents during the bizarre incident on September 11.
Police have now released CCTV from the shop on Archway Road in a bid to track down the thief.
Detective Sergeant Dave Bullock, Serious Acquisitive Crime Unit in Haringey, said: 'The victim in this incident said that he was momentarily unaware of what had happened to him.
'The suspect's distraction tactics appeared to have worked as he robbed the victim of cash from his pocket.
'If anyone recognises the suspect or has been a victim in similar circumstances, please contact us.'
Scotland Yard said: 'On Thursday, September 11 at approximately 9.45pm the suspect entered a shop in Archway Road and told the owner that his wife was pregnant and she needed some bottled water.
'The suspect touched the stomach area of the victim to imitate his wife's condition.
'The suspect is then seen to take a quantity of cash out of the victim's pockets as the victim remained motionless and unable to stop the robbery taking place.
'The suspect is described as approximately 30-35 years old, of Eastern European appearance, around 5ft 8ins tall, of slim build, with short black hair, wearing dark jeans, a grey polo shirt, a black bomber jacket with small white writing on the back just below the collar.'
Anyone with information should call police on 020 3276 3158 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The man, who is believed to be Eastern European, walked into the shop in Highgate, north London, and claimed his wife was pregnant and needed water.
He can be seen touching the member of staff on the stomach to demonstrate his wife's baby bump, before the man falls into what appears to be a trance-like state.
The shopkeeper only comes to after the thief has rummaged through his pockets and made off with the contents during the bizarre incident on September 11.
Police have now released CCTV from the shop on Archway Road in a bid to track down the thief.
Detective Sergeant Dave Bullock, Serious Acquisitive Crime Unit in Haringey, said: 'The victim in this incident said that he was momentarily unaware of what had happened to him.
'The suspect's distraction tactics appeared to have worked as he robbed the victim of cash from his pocket.
'If anyone recognises the suspect or has been a victim in similar circumstances, please contact us.'
Scotland Yard said: 'On Thursday, September 11 at approximately 9.45pm the suspect entered a shop in Archway Road and told the owner that his wife was pregnant and she needed some bottled water.
'The suspect touched the stomach area of the victim to imitate his wife's condition.
'The suspect is then seen to take a quantity of cash out of the victim's pockets as the victim remained motionless and unable to stop the robbery taking place.
'The suspect is described as approximately 30-35 years old, of Eastern European appearance, around 5ft 8ins tall, of slim build, with short black hair, wearing dark jeans, a grey polo shirt, a black bomber jacket with small white writing on the back just below the collar.'
Anyone with information should call police on 020 3276 3158 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Source : DailyMail , Scotland Yard
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