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PROLIFIC THIEF JAILED FOR 18 MONTHS AFTER HE STOLE FROM FIRST CLASS PASSENGERS AT PADDINGTON STATION

A prolific thief who targeted first-class passengers at Paddington station has been given an 18-month jail term following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.

Anthony Harris, 46, of no fixed abode but know to both Liverpool and east London, appeared at Blackfriars Crown Court on Monday, 4 April, where he also received a five-year Antisocial Behavioural Order (ASBO).

The ASBO prohibits him from entering Paddington station or travelling on any First Great Western (FGW) service, as well as loitering near any luggage or bag storage areas on the railway throughout England and Wales.

During the proceedings, the court heard details of six thefts Harris was charged with, as well as a further 22 offences, which were taken into consideration.

^Harris is a prolific wallet thief and his victims of choice were usually first class passengers on board FGW trains waiting to leave Paddington station,^ said the investigating officer, BTP^s Detective Constable Dave Graney.

^All the offences were carried out the same way, where Harris would place his jacket over his victims^ jacket, which were on the hooks at the side of the seats. He would then slip his hand in to remove their wallets before coolly walking off the train and back into Paddington station.^

Harris stole more than ^2,800 worth of property between January 2009 and January 2011, including credit cards, ID cards and cash. In some cases, he even used the stolen credit cards to visit cash machines and remove money from his victims^ accounts.

Detectives reviewed CCTV for each offence and were able to place him at the scene of every theft.

His activities were so prolific, detectives took the unprecedented step of releasing his name and picture to the media earlier this year (January 2011) in order to locate him.

Det Con Graney added: ^On 4 March, we spotted Harris on the over-bridge at Paddington station before arresting him on suspicion of a number of theft offences. He made full admissions in police interviews and said that he stole in order to support his family.^

In recent weeks, BTP has seen two more prolific thieves handed jail terms after targeting passengers at some of London^s busiest stations.

Anouar Labibi, 26, of no fixed abode, but known to Southend-on-Sea, was handed an 18-month jail term and a three-year ASBO on Friday, 1 April, after he stole more than ^7,000 worth of property from passengers at Liverpool Streetstation.

And Sorin Balaban, 21, of no fixed abode but known to the Tottenham area, was sentenced to 45 days in prison after officers caught him with his hand in a shopper^s bag at Euston station.

Detective Sergeant Bertie Roddy, lead officer for BTP London North Area^s dedicated bag theft team, said: ^Property theft is an important priority for BTP, especially as it causes inconvenience and misery to the victims. For that reason, I am extremely pleased that the courts recognised the seriousness of Harris^ crimes and gave him a substantial sentence.^

^I hope this sentence, along with the two other recent results, sends a clear message to thieves that we are out there arresting those who think they can help themselves to other peoples^ property,^ Det Sgt Roddy added.

At court, Harris was also charged with escaping from lawful custody for an offence committed in November 2010.

BTP^s tips for keeping your possessions safe on the railway:

Ensure valuable items are not visible.
Carry your rucksacks and hand bags in front of you.
Do not keep phones and wallets in outer pockets of bags where they are easily accessible.

Notes to Editors:

ASBO conditions
Entering or remaining in, or alighting a train at Paddington station
Loitering near any luggage/bag storage area on any train and railway station in England and Wales
Travelling on any First Great Western trains
Entering or passing through first class train carriages on any trains in England and Wales

Costings
The six thefts Harris was charged with totalled at ^560
The 22 thefts taken into consideration totalled at ^2,305