A THIEF who swapped a victim’s bag with a decoy was nabbed red-handed by the police in Farringdon.

Plain-clothed officers caught the robber, 32-year-old Mohamed Hade, coming out of a pub in Farringdon Street on March 19 holding a different bag from the one he went in with.

CCTV footage showed Mr Hade switching the bags while he sat at a table beside a group of people.

The victim, realising his bag was gone, was about to report the theft to the police when officers arrived with his belongings – including a laptop.

Sergeant James Wood from the City of London Police said: “People shouldn’t worry about having their bags stolen while out, but professional criminals will seize any opportunity to take your belongings. We urge vigilance and to report anything suspicious to the police.”

Mr Hade pleaded guilty at Central London Magistrates’ Court to one count of theft from the person and was sentenced to three months in prison.