Police Seek Thief Caught on Camera Stealing Phone from Sleeping Victim
A brazen thief who stole a mobile phone from a sleeping man has become a fugitive after failing to appear in court for sentencing.
City of London Police are appealing for information to locate Paul Langan, 58, who failed to attend court for his sentencing after admitting to theft. Langan was captured on CCTV footage stealing a mobile phone from a sleeping victim near Liverpool Street station on the evening of Friday, April 24.
The footage shows Langan approaching the victim, who appeared to be asleep on some steps, before casually taking the phone and putting it in his pocket. Police control room staff, monitoring the extensive CCTV network, tracked Langan in real-time.
Officers were dispatched to the scene, and Langan was subsequently arrested. The victim was assisted, and his phone was returned. Police Constable Sachin Kumar described Langan as a "brazen and opportunistic thief" who stole from someone in a vulnerable state instead of offering help.
Langan pleaded guilty to the theft but failed to appear for his sentencing hearing in June. A warrant has since been issued for his arrest. Police are urging anyone with information about his whereabouts to come forward.
