- The thief stole the bag outside London's Kings Cross station on Wednesday
- The unnoticed stranger takes his chances while the couple is distracted
- British Transport Police have urged travelers to be alert
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This is the shocking moment a brazen thief stole a couple's bag as they loaded their luggage into a taxi outside a London train station.
The incident, which happened at London's Kings Cross station at 9.30pm on Wednesday, December 13, was caught on camera by someone sitting in a car directly behind him.
In the video, posted to X, formerly Twitter, the couple walks to a taxi and opens one of the back doors to stack their luggage.
A radio can be heard in the background as the woman climbs into the back seat first, while her partner steps forward to lend a hand, leaving the rest of their bags unattended for just a few seconds.
At this moment, a previously unnoticed stranger approaches the taxi and glances at the distracted couple.
The couple arrive at a taxi rank outside London's Kings Cross station
The couple then begins to bundle their luggage into the taxi after opening the back door
With the couple's backs turned, the thief suddenly comes up behind him and steals the suitcase
Realizing his opportunity, the stranger, dressed in a black jacket, grabs an overnight bag sitting on top of a suitcase and turns to run away.
The taxi driver behind the dashcam, who has spotted the theft, honks before throwing open his door to get the couple's attention and shouts, 'Hey! He just got stolen. He just stole your bag.”
After the couple realizes what has happened, the man begins running after the thief in an attempt to reclaim his stolen property.
The woman gets out of the taxi again to look after the rest of the bags that are now unattended on the sidewalk. It is still unclear whether the man managed to catch the thief.
The video was shared on the social platform by user Londonkabbie with the caption: 'Beware of assholes when loading, the slightest chance and they will take it. Fortunately, this is quite rare, but it does happen.”
The clip received hundreds of likes and dozens of comments from shocked social media users who were left in disbelief at the brazen thief.
One said: 'Wow. Never seen that happen before. I've never thought about being on the lookout for people's luggage while they're loaded. Will now.'
Another accused the taxi driver of not doing more to help, saying: '100% on the taxi driver here. Hopefully he put his hand in his pocket and paid to replace the stolen item.”
A third said: 'Two of the busiest stations in London plus Eurostar, never a police patrol in the ranks or drop off. Go to an airport and the weapons are everywhere.'
Another claimed, “If only we as a society offered these scum immediate social justice, they would be less likely to try it out.
“A few days in the hospital and a few missing teeth would make him think twice next time.”
It comes just weeks after a suitcase was stolen from the boot of a taxi by another brazen thief outside King's Cross station.
The incident, captured on video, shows the perpetrator sneaking into the back of the car and opening the trunk before fleeing with the suitcase.
A previous theft took place just weeks ago outside London's Kings Cross station
British Transport Police have warned people to be alert at busy transport hubs.
A spokesperson said: 'Thieves are attracted to busy environments where people are temporarily distracted, which unfortunately makes train stations and tourist hotspots a likely target for thieves
'Luggage thieves use a variety of tactics, so it's important to remain vigilant and alert when traveling and keep an eye on your belongings – making sure valuables are safe and out of sight if possible.
'If you are the victim of a crime, or see something that is wrong, tell a railway employee or police officer what you saw. You can also text us at 61016.'