Hardly The Thomas Crown Affair! Opportunistic thief tries to steal large painting from gallery by shoving it in his hoodie... then walks out with it under his arm
- CCTV shows would-be art thief walk into a gallery in Birmingham
- Video shows him casually plucking piece of valuable art from wall
- He then tucks it under his arm and saunters towards the exit
- Birmingham Police are now hunting the opportunistic would-be thief
As heists go, it was hardly the scheme of the century.
CCTV footage has caught the moment a would-be art thief walked into a gallery in Birmingham, before casually plucking a piece of valuable First World War art from the wall.
Having perhaps not thought the robbery through properly, the video shows the opportunistic thief trying to stuff the large painting under his hooded jumper, before giving up and tucking it under his arm and sauntering towards the exit.
Scroll down for video
CCTV footage has caught the moment a would-be art thief walked into a gallery in Birmingham, before casually plucking a piece of valuable World War One art from the wall
The footage shows him walking around the gallery before casually pulling at a painting to see if it is attached to the wall
The video shows him trying to stuff the large painting under his hooded jumper
Unfortunately for him staff spotted the large frame under his arms has he tried to make his way out of the museum doors.
The attempted theft happened just before 5pm on Sunday 17 August in Castle Fine Art Gallery on Broad Street.
The would-be thief then tries the painting another way, again, with no success
He then gives up and tucks it under his arm. The attempted theft happened just before 5pm on Sunday 17 August in Castle Fine Art Gallery on Broad Street
Unfortunately for him staff spotted the large frame under his arms has he tried to make his way out of the museum doors
Investigating officer, PC Patrick Higgins said: 'The thief was quite optimistic in his attempts to conceal the artwork, valued at several hundred pounds, but fortunately he made off empty handed.
'We are now keen to identify the man in the CCTV to prevent him from turning his attention to smaller objects.'
Police are appealing for anyone who recognises the man to call 101 or alternatively information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
As heists go, it was hardly comparable to the Thomas Crown Affair, the film about a millionaire businessman playboy who sets up a heist to steal priceless art from a museum
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2759015/Hardly-The-Thomas-Crown-Affair-Opportunistic-thief-tries-steal-large-painting-gallery-shoving-hoodie-walks-arm.html#ixzz3DZQq30zM
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
