Evening Standard/London


Would-be bank robbers targeted a branch of Barclays in south east London this afternoon.
The group tried to steal cash from the bank in London Road, Forest Hill, just before 3pm yesterday.
But a quick-thinking bank teller activated a smoke defence alarm, causing the bank to fill with smoke and prompting the robbers to flee the scene empty handed, witnesses said.
Julia Murrell, who saw the drama unfolding, told the Standard: “There was a lot of smoke coming from the bank.
“Some people thought it was just a fire, but I spoke to a woman who runs a nearby café and she seemed to know it wasn’t because she’d spoken to the guy who had recently fitted the smoke alarm.”
She continued: “I was quite worried because I only live around the corner. I have never heard of this happening in Forest Hill before.
“But if you are going to rob a bank, I would not go for that one - it’s right on the corner, it really sticks out. It was quite a stupid idea.”
Part of the road was closed while detectives investigated.
A spokeswoman for Scotland Yard said no money was stolen in the attempted raid.
She said: “Police were called at 2.51pm to an attempted armed robbery at Barclays in London Road, Forest Hill.
“The suspects fled the scene before police arrived.
“No money was stolen and there were no injuries or arrests. Enquiries are continuing. detectives from the metropolitan police’s flying squad are investigating.”
A brazen thief tailgated workers into a City consulting firm and swiped thousands of pounds’ worth of smartphones and laptops.
Officers from City of London Police yesterday launched an appeal on social media to track down the suspect.
The man made off with a £6,418 haul which included 10 iPhones, an iPad,Samsung Galaxy  Note and a Macbook.
Detectives believe the man walked into 50 St Mary Axe, where the business is based, behind a staff member and visited every floor - before striking it lucky at the consulting business, whose workers were temporarily out of the office .
“The iPad was company property but the mobile phones  and laptop were personal property belonging to staff,” said a police spokeswoman.
“He entered 50 St Mary Axe on May 8 between 3.20pm and 4.30pm and entered the office of a consulting firm, while staff were still in the building but had vacated the office.”
Police released this picture of a man they want to trace.