New leads after CCTV shop theft appeal

4:26pm Thursday 27th March 2008

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POLICE are examining new leads after a sneak thief was filmed by CCTV cameras stealing a shopkeeper's phone.

The thief struck at the Crafty By Nature shop in Bolton Road, Farnworth, at around 4pm on Thursday, January 31.

Police released the CCTV picture to The Bolton News print edition and this website earlier this month in a bid to identify the man.

Now, officers have been given a possible name and address for the thief, and are following-up five tip-offs from members of the public who called the Crimestoppers hotline and Farnworth police station after seeing the picture.

The man, who police think could be from Little Hulton, went into the shop posing as a customer.

He leaned on the counter and made small-talk with the shopkeeper, saying his girlfriend was in hospital and that he was thinking of buying some items from the craft shop to keep his kids amused while she was away.

But, as the man spoke, he casually sneaked his hand to the side of the counter and quickly pocketed the shopkeeper's mobile phone, which she had left on the work-top.

The man then left the store without buying anything, but the whole incident was filmed on the shop's CCTV cameras.

PC Ian Roby, from Farnworth Police, said: "I would like to thank those members of the public who got in touch with us. They have been very helpful and our enquiries are ongoing."

Anybody with information about the man is asked to contact PC Roby on 0161 856 5822 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.