Summary
- Two men were captured on CCTV removing a bag containing a Panasonic Lumix S5II, tripod and microphone from a pub near Old Street.
- The Metropolitan Police admitted an error in handling the call and apologised.
- City of London Police warns that bag thieves can operate quickly and discreetly in busy venues.
- For photographers and videographers, protecting equipment requires the same attention while travelling, in pubs, cafés, on shoots and during everyday transport.
A Panasonic Lumix S5II, tripod and microphone were stolen within seconds from a Shoreditch pub, in a case that highlighted both the speed of bag thieves and an error in the Metropolitan Police’s handling of the call.
The incident was described by video journalist Luke Reevey in an article for The Standard published on 29 August 2026. Reevey was with colleagues in a Shoreditch pub near Old Street station when he realised that his black backpack, along with the equipment inside, had disappeared.
The case is particularly relevant to photographers, videographers and crews because the bag was not taken in an isolated location but inside a busy venue. According to Reevey’s description, the pub’s CCTV showed two men near the exit removing the bag without drawing the attention of people around them.
How the theft happened
The journalist said the bag had been left in a corner of the venue and had moved out of his direct line of sight. When he realised it was missing, he went downstairs with the pub manager to review the security footage.
On the CCTV, as he describes it, one of the two men appears to use his foot to catch the backpack strap and drag it towards them. The second man then bends down, picks it up and the pair leave. Inside were a Panasonic Lumix S5II, a tripod and a microphone.
By the time the theft was noticed, roughly 15 minutes had passed. Reevey had the time of the incident, CCTV images and the direction in which the two suspects had left, details he believed could assist an immediate search.
The Metropolitan Police error
Reevey called 999 and gave the location as Shoreditch, near Old Street. According to his account, the call handler could not find the exact address in the system and told him the incident must fall under City of London Police. That force recorded the case even though the location ultimately did not fall within its jurisdiction.
The following morning, according to the report, the Metropolitan Police contacted him and apologised. The Met explained that in its Computer-Aided Dispatch system the address had not appeared with the “Happy House” marker used for locations within its area. It also acknowledged that other indicators pointed to the correct jurisdiction, including Tower Hamlets, the EC2A postcode and the location near Old Street.
In a statement published by The Standard, the Met apologised for the handling of the call, said the incident had been reviewed internally and that action had been taken to prevent the same mistake happening again. On 29 August, police also said the theft investigation was ongoing.
Bag theft in pubs is an established pattern
The technique does not exist in a vacuum. In June 2026, City of London Police specifically warned about bag thieves in pubs and bars, noting that they can operate very quickly and discreetly when customers are distracted.
The same force has publicised cases in which offenders stole bags in seconds or swapped them for another bag in busy venues. In one March 2026 case, two men were spotted by plain-clothes officers after a bag theft at a pub in Leadenhall Market.
Official advice is straightforward: keep the bag in sight or on your person, loop the strap around a chair leg where practical, and avoid leaving valuables on the back of a chair or out of sight on the floor. The Metropolitan Police also advises visitors to keep cameras and laptops close and never unattended.
What image-makers can do in practice
For someone carrying cameras and lenses, the loss is not only financial. Work files can disappear, a professional shoot or trip can be disrupted and equipment may need to be replaced immediately. Basic preparation includes keeping serial numbers, photographs of the gear and proof of purchase somewhere separate from the bag itself.
If equipment is stolen, the incident should be reported to police as quickly as possible with the most precise information available. In the UK, GOV.UK guidance says to call 999 when there is immediate danger or a crime is in progress, while 101 or online reporting is used for non-emergency cases.
For incidents in Greece, PTTL Lost & Found Gear provides a public, searchable registry for lost, stolen and found photo or video equipment. PTTL’s detailed guide on what to do after camera gear is stolen also remains useful. Nobody should attempt to confront or chase a suspect alone in order to recover property.
What we think
Protecting gear matters wherever you are
The main lesson from this case is not limited to London. Expensive photography and video equipment can become a target anywhere there is a crowd, movement and a brief lapse in attention. A café, pub, hotel lobby, event venue, airport or even a break during a shoot is not automatically a “safe zone” simply because it is indoors or other people are nearby.
The best habit is to keep equipment either on your person or in a position continuously controlled by both your body and your line of sight. A bag on the floor behind a chair, in a corner or just outside your view can be enough. That does not shift responsibility from the thief to the victim; it is simply practical management of a tool that can cost thousands of euros and may contain irreplaceable material.
The second lesson is that prevention continues after the purchase: serial numbers, copies of receipts, regular backups of cards and files, discreet transport without unnecessary display of the gear, and a clear plan for what to do after a theft. Wherever someone is, watching the bag should become part of the routine, just like charging batteries or checking memory cards.
Frequently asked questions
What equipment was stolen from the journalist?
According to Luke Reevey, the bag contained a Panasonic Lumix S5II, a tripod and a microphone.
How does the theft appear to have happened?
According to the journalist’s description of the CCTV, one man appears to pull the bag strap towards the two suspects with his foot before the second man picks it up and they leave.
Why did the Metropolitan Police apologise?
The Met admitted that the call was wrongly redirected to City of London Police because the address did not appear correctly in its system, even though other indicators showed that the incident fell within the Met’s jurisdiction.
What do police advise for bags in pubs and cafés?
City of London Police advises keeping bags, phones and wallets in sight, securing bag straps where possible and avoiding leaving valuables on the backs of chairs or unattended on the floor.
When should someone call 999 in the UK?
Official guidance says 999 should be used when there is immediate danger or a crime is in progress. For non-emergency cases, 101 or online reporting should be used.
