CITY OF LONDON, UK — Two men have been sentenced to prison after CCTV footage captured them stealing a bag from a pub in the City of London.
Hecham Bourhar, 29, and Mohammed Kraifa, 34, both of Wood Street, E17, were each sentenced to 18 weeks in prison after pleading guilty to theft.
Bourhar also received an additional eight-week prison sentence for breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order that banned him from entering the City of London. The sentence will run concurrently.
The theft occurred on Tuesday, 11 November, at a pub on New Street. CCTV footage showed Kraifa discreetly dragging the victim’s bag along the floor with his foot before Bourhar quickly picked it up. Both men then left the premises together.
The stolen bag contained a laptop and other personal belongings valued at approximately £2,000.
Sergeant James Wood, from the Proactive Acquisitive Crime Team at City of London Police, said officers continue to prioritise tackling bag theft.
“By using all our resources in tracking down bag thieves, we have already made significant arrests leading to successful prosecutions. This is another great result, with two offenders now behind bars,” he said.
“Our dedicated officers are working tirelessly to protect those who live, work and visit the Square Mile.”
In a separate incident, police also arrested two men on suspicion of bag theft at a pub in Leadenhall Market on 20 November 2025. Investigations into that case remain ongoing.
