A brave shopkeeper chased after a cheeky crook after he brazenly pinched a bottle of champagne from a shop in posh village.
The man parked up outside in a black Toyota Rav 4 and even left the driver’s side door open. He waltzed into the Premier convenience store and walked straight up to the chilled drink cabinets. The crook can be seen choosing which item he wants before he swiped the bottle of bubbly. He then walks quickly out of the store before saying “Cheers mate” to the shop worker.
The confused shop worker replied “Thank you” without spotting he had shoplifted. But then quickly worked out what had happened and ran after him. He flew out of the door to the shop, narrowly avoiding colliding with a young child who was walking in to the stpre as two other customers looked on in shock at what happened.
A second CCTV camera spots the thief as he is seen clambering into his waiting SUV and the driver attempts to speed off. The shopkeeper managed to grab hold of the door and yank it. But the crook was able to drive away at speed with the door still wide open. The car's wheels can be heard screeching as he races away with the bottle inside the vehicle.
The brazen theft took place in the quaint village of Crockenhill, Kent - where average house prices stand at £680,000 - at just after 2pm on Monday. Kent Police has been approached for comment.
