Hunt For Bungling Robbers Caught On Camera

Video: Bungling Robbers Caught On CCTV

By Mark White, Home Affairs Correspondent

Police are hunting two men who prepared for an armed robbery attempt completely unaware they were being filmed by a CCTV camera above their heads.

The incident unfolded in the Shepherd Market area of London's Mayfair in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The two men are seen on the security video walking up a nearby alley before going to a great deal of trouble to hide their faces, putting their hoodies up and putting on gloves.

The two would-be robbers enter the alley

But all the time the camera is recording very clear images of the pair, who appear not to notice it.
The men are then seen walking to the end of the street, where they attempted to rob a man at gunpoint.
The 37-year-old victim was parking his car in Shepherd Market when he was approached.

The pair walk off having pulled up their hoods

He told police one of the robbers said: "What have you got for me?"
The man managed to run away and raise the alarm, and the two would-be robbers were left to flee the scene empty handed, again caught on CCTV as they ran back up the nearby alley.

The men run back through the alley after the failed robbery attempt

One of the suspects is described as white and approximately 18 to 21 years old. He was seen putting a green bandana around his face before taking a handgun from his waistband and holding it behind his back.
Police say the second suspect is a light-skinned black man, also around 18 to 21.