The 60-second laptop snatch

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But in only one minute he displays his credentials as a career criminal by stealing a laptop from under the nose of its owner.

These stills, taken from CCTV footage at Victoria station, show how easy it is for opportunistic thieves to steal in a matter of seconds.

The thief, Karim Bouri, is shown sitting at a table next to two men who are leaning over a laptop.

Bouri takes off his suit jacket, looks around and then kicks their computer bag underneath the table, realising it contains another laptop.

After one aborted attempt, he tries a second time and takes the bag. The thief walks off and his victims are none the wiser.

The 33-year-old - a prolific laptop thief - was arrested for another offence later. British Transport Police were able to use this footage, which followed him through Victoria station to the Starbucks coffee shop, to convict him of theft for this offence.

It was part of an anti-crime initiative called Shopwatch, which was tested last year and is now being rolled out in stores at Victoria station.

As part of the scheme all station businesses will be equipped with radio systems, putting them in instant contact with British Transport police.

BTP Sergeant Jenny Baynes said early trials had already brought dozens of arrests, with theft offences down six per cent at Victoria. She said: "Over the past three months, while we have been implementing the scheme, we have made 88 arrests at Victoria for shop-related theft, as well as numerous banning orders.

"People opting to sit and have a coffee or a drink while waiting for trains historically have had mobile phones and laptops stolen, while many shops have reported thefts of store items.

"By linking in with the retailers and rail staff and by using combined CCTV coverage, we are able to benefit from having the extra eyes and ears to help us make further reductions in crime."

Last year British Transport Police launched the first railway station Shop-Watch scheme at Waterloo, which has resulted in a 20 per cent drop in thefts at the station.