A SNEAK thief waited until a helpful shop assistant was distracted before stuffing a tablet computer worth hundreds of pounds into his jacket.

The shoplifter can be seen picking up the Samsung tablet while the worker’s back is turned.

He then takes the opportunity to cram the expensive device into his coat, before picking up a leaflet and walking out of the store.

James Callaghan, who has run Blue Sky Printing, in Sir Isaac’s Walk, Colchester, for almost a year, said the footage was “as clear as day.”

“A gentleman came in to enquire about business prints, picked up our tablet and walked out.

“He was talking to a member of staff for a while and asked a few questions.

“The members of staff was doing some photocopying and when his back was turned, he grabbed it.

“Luckily we have quite good cameras and he looks straight at it.”

The distraction theft happened at 5.15pm on Thursday.

Mr Callaghan says a spate of burglaries and thefts in Sir Isaac’s Walk had left business owners immensely frustrated.

He said: “He went to Game after nicking it to try and sell it.

“An ex-police officer who works there said he recognised him, but couldn’t remember his name. The amount of businesses in town which have been affected by crime and theft is unbelievable.

“I think it is getting worse and worse.

“Business owners are quite down about it, people are having to spend extra money on security measures.

“I think these criminals feel like they can just do anything, at night it is dimly lit, there aren’t really any cameras. The only camera pointed at our shop is so far away it won’t pick up anything.

“The tablet is worth around £250, unfortunately my insurance excess is £250.

“Business hasn’t been as busy as I thought it would be since we moved here, but we had been having a really good week.

“It was so frustrating as up until the theft it had been a great week.

“I am thinking it could be worth setting up a group so business owners can quickly report things like this and warn each other to be on the lookout.”

Anyone with information or who recognises the man can call Essex Police on 101.