A suspected thief brazenly stole an influencer's suitcase outside London St Pancras station on Sunday morning, according to video footage shared on social media. The incident occurred as Colleen Bankston, an influencer and personal trainer, turned her back for a moment to pack luggage into the boot of a taxi.
The footage shows a man, wearing headphones and a baseball cap, looking around before subtly picking up the suitcase and walking away with it. Ms. Bankston appeared unaware the bag had been taken. The man then concealed the suitcase by holding it close to his chest before entering the station.
Ms. Bankston posted the video online, captioning it with a plea to identify the man to prevent him from targeting others. Viewers commented on the thief's apparent professionalism, with one suggesting he had stolen bags before and another reporting a similar incident at the same station two weeks prior.
The suspect was described as wearing a white polo shirt, blue suit trousers, a black rucksack, and glasses.
British Transport Police confirmed they are aware of the video and are conducting inquiries. They asked anyone with information to contact them, quoting reference 447 of September 1.
This incident follows previous theft cases at the station. Last month, an Algerian national was jailed for 22 months after stealing a suitcase containing jewelry worth up to £175,000. The thief had used a distraction tactic, telling the victim her trousers were dirty, before taking the luggage. The convicted man had prior convictions for similar bag thefts since arriving in the UK in 2024.
In June, a classical musician, Peter Facer, had his oboe stolen outside the same station. He was approached by individuals who, under the guise of asking for directions, distracted him while an accomplice took his instrument and other belongings.