Organised crime groups are increasingly targeting vulnerable individuals visiting banks, pickpocketing them as they leave with their money, the Metropolitan Police has warned. The force has released footage of one such incident in southeast London, where an elderly man fell victim to a thief.

The video shows the elderly man boarding a bus, during which the driver was distracted, allowing the thief to delve into a plastic bag the man was carrying and make off with the contents. The criminal was later caught and sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for the 2021 incident.

This footage was released as the Met announced a 75 percent reduction in bank ‘follow-off’ crime in parts of the capital. This type of crime involves a thief loitering inside banks to identify victims, who are then pickpocketed by accomplices outside.

Despite the successes, the Met warns that this crime is often under-reported, with an estimated 66 percent of victims being over 60 years old.

The Met’s Bank Safe initiative, launched in 2022, has been crucial in tackling this issue. Local police officers carry out targeted patrols in areas most affected by thefts around banks, raising awareness among customers and communities about the tactics used by thieves. Detailed investigations of CCTV footage help identify and arrest repeat offenders.

Sgt David James, who leads the Bank Safe project for the Met, explained that victims often do not realize they have been robbed, blaming themselves instead for losing their money. “Distraction theft is a very personal crime that often has life-changing impacts on victims,” he said. “In most cases, victims do not know they have been targeted and tend to blame themselves for losing their hard-earned cash. Police operations such as Bank Safe will aid in targeting these organised crime gangs and remove them from the streets of London.”

Since the operation’s start, some boroughs have seen a decrease in these crimes, and efforts continue towards further reductions. Specialist and local officers remain dedicated to fighting community crime alongside partners and local communities to stop these gangs from re-offending.

Catriona Still, Head of Fraud Prevention & Training at the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU), highlighted the importance of training bank staff to identify potential thieves. “The DCPCU have been working hard to combat branch follow-off crime and have trained over 400 branch employees in high-risk areas across the UK in the past 12 months alone,” she said. “The joint collaboration between the DCPCU and Met Police has prevented customers from having significant values of cash stolen from them.”

The Bank Safe initiative, established two years ago, combats the rise in ‘follow-off’ crimes across the capital. Specialist officers gather intelligence and dismantle organised gangs, while neighbourhood officers work with local partners such as the DCPCU, Age UK, local authorities, and banks to raise awareness and educate communities about follow-off crime and distraction techniques.

To reduce vulnerability to personal theft, the Met advises the public to stay aware of their surroundings, pay attention to who’s around them, and keep cash in a secure bag or a hard-to-reach, out-of-sight pocket. Reporting crimes immediately is also emphasized.

John McGeachy of Age UK London stressed the serious impact on the elderly, calling the targeting “particularly insidious.” He said, “Being a victim of this, or any other type of crime, can have serious consequences for people’s confidence and mental health. With older people more likely to bank in person than other age groups, it’s particularly insidious to target them in this way as they leave the bank with their cash. We welcome the police’s efforts to stamp down on this crime and ensure people can bank with confidence and in safety.”