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Man brazenly 'steals fruit machine cash' in front of stunned Wetherspoons drinkers

Footage shows alleged thief force open device using screwdriver

Tom Embury-Dennis
Monday 13 August 2018 15:18 BST
Man appears to steal money from a fruit machine at a pub in London
Man appears to steal money from a fruit machine at a pub in London

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A man has been filmed allegedly stealing money from a betting machine in front of stunned onlookers at a Wetherspoons pub in central London.

Footage shared on Twitter showed the man, wearing a black baseball cap and sunglasses, force the front of the fruit machine open using a screwdriver, before removing a metal container apparently containing money.

“No way, I can’t believe it,” one witness can be heard saying as a woman asks, “Oh my God, what are you doing?”

As the thief begins to leave, the man filming laughs and tells him, “Go on son, get them shades off for the camera lad!” as customers look on in shock.

Although the Twitter user claimed Saturday's incident was in Shoreditch, it appears have actually occurred at the Sir John Oldcastle, a Wetherspoons-owned pub in Farringdon. The Independent has contacted the company for confirmation.

The Sir John Oldcastle said it was unable to comment.

The Metropolitan Police have been contacted for comment.

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