Police have released CCTV pictures of a man distracting people with dancing before stealing Rolex watches.
The footage shows Abdelhadi Bahou-Jabour high five a couple before running through a dance routine.
Feigning friendship, he then slips the £9,000 Rolex off the woman’s wrist.
He then tries to take the man’s watch before running off into a park where he spots a woman wearing a Rolex.
He started singing “It’s Coming Home” before twisting her arm and stealing the £4,700 watch.
PC Mat Evans later spotted Bahou-Jabour during a plain clothes patrol in New Street, Birmingham and arrested him.
Pc Evans said:
“This technique, where a criminal dances with their victim to distract them, has been referred to as the ‘Ronaldinho’ after the famous dancing footballer.
“Normally pickpockets try to steal using stealth, so you won’t even feel it.
“But this technique uses the opposite approach, using excessive contact to misdirect your attention away from the sensation of having your pockets emptied or, in this case, your watch stolen.
“This is not a skill you pick up overnight, it requires many hours of training and practice to perfect and is very effective.
“I’ve seen the ‘Ronaldinho’ technique used before, but this offender’s particular dance moves were the most bizarre I’ve ever seen.
“I would always advise people to be on their guard when on a night out, as professional pickpockets are just as active then as they are during the day.”
Bahou-Jabour pleaded guilty to robbery at Birmingham Crown Court.
He will be sentenced next month.
A sly street thief breaks into a bizarre dance to distract victims before stealing a Rolex watch.
But he’s now enjoyed his last tango in Birmingham after we caught the nimble-footed thief prowling the city centre.
We’ve released footage showing just how he did it.
— West Midlands Police (@WMPolice) September 2, 2021
ill be sentenced on October 6.
