Caught on camera: Brazen art thief walks out of gallery with £700 painting under arm
This is the moment one shameless art thief was caught on camera trying to shove a sculpture down his hoodie - before brazenly walking out with it under his arm.
The crook is seen on CCTV looking around an art gallery on his own before spying a framed sculpture, worth £700, hanging on a wall in a secluded area of the exhibition.
He then takes a sneaky look around him to make sure he is not being watched before lifting the piece off its hook.
Security footage of his botched heist shows the thief repeatedly try and shove the 2ft by 1ft framed sculpture under his hoodie before giving up and walking out of the gallery.
The 55-second clip shows the denim-wearing thief strolling out of the double doors moments before staff confronted him outside.
He handed the painting back but fled before police arrived.
West Midlands Police released the CCTV footage of the attempted theft of the wall art, which commemorates The First World War, and have now arrested a 41-year-old man from Birmingham in connection with the theft.
The attempted theft happened just before 5pm on August 17 in Castle Fine Art Gallery, Birmingham.
Investigating officer, Pc Patrick Higgins said: "The thief was quite optimistic in his attempts to conceal the artwork, valued at £700, but fortunately he made off empty handed."
Since its release the video has been watched over 200,000 times.
