Police are hunting a gang of thieves behind a lightning crime spree which saw them raid a string of businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk in the space of less than two hours.
The criminals targeted firms either side of the county border along a 20-mile corridor linked by the A146.
The three men - dubbed the A146 Gang - called at pubs, shops and beauty salons, distracting staff and customers with bizarre tactics, before stealing items and moving on to the next location, sometimes just metres away.
Their ploy involved causing confusion, by waving magazines at workers and bombarding them with a string of unusual demands while stealing loose items like phones, keys and cash.
The group were repeatedly captured on CCTV and police were alerted while the raids were ongoing.
A number of the victims contacted each other on Facebook at the height of the spree and shared information.
However, officers were unable to detain the men and no arrests have yet been made.
A tracking device in one of the stolen items showed that within four hours of being taken it was about 100 miles away in London.
LIGHTNING SPREE STARTS
The spree - which involved at least five businesses - began at around 6.40pm on Monday when the group of three men called at Tan Republic, in Lowestoft.
At the time, the tanning salon was busy with staff and customers.
Jo Ozboyaci, who was working there, said: “They were just really sneaky and clever. It took a while to clock what they were up to.
“Initially they came in as customers asking about booking a service and then one asked to wash his hands and the other guy came to the counter with money saying he wanted to buy something and then went behind the counter.
“He was ever so shifty and using this magazine to hide the fact he was nicking my phone."
She eventually spotted what he was up to and the staff and customers forced the group to leave empty-handed.
As soon as they had left, Ms Ozboyaci contacted Suffolk police and gave a description of the men.
She also posted details on Facebook and called the force again later in the evening when she saw businesses report other offences online. She handed over the car registration number.
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'STRANGE BEHAVIOUR'
Half an hour after leaving Tan Republic the gang were 10 miles away in Beccles, where they targeted another salon, Blossom Clinic, in Blyburgate.
Owner Arwen Watson, 39, said: "On my CCTV we saw a car waiting outside with a driver ready. Two men then came into the shop.
"These two men came in trying to be really charming and smooth, but were acting strange.
"They said they wanted to book appointments for their wife or girlfriends.
"The member of staff who was working is quite young and went to the counter and they tried to follow her around the counter and asked to use the bathroom upstairs.
"One chap took his jacket off and the other put a magazine on the counter where there was a phone on the side.
"A client noticed their behaviour was strange and asked them to leave.
"It has left my young member of staff really shaken."
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Mrs Watson quickly shared images of the men on Facebook and got in contact with Mrs Ozboyaci, who had also posted images of the same men.
Within minutes, Mrs Watson was called by someone telling her the men were in the Beccles' Wetherspoon pub, the King's Head, which is around 50 metres from the salon.
Before going there, they had tried their luck in the town's Wine Vaults, which is directly opposite the Blossom Clinic.
They attempted to force their way into the bar and restaurant cellar before being thrown out.
At the King's Head, they attempted to steal a woman's handbag before being thrown out again.
SPREE SPREADS TO NORFOLK
The men then drove on to the Gillingham Swan, less than two miles away, where they managed to steal a staff member's iPhone.
They then headed to the George and the Dragon Pub, nine miles up the A146 in Thurton.
Owner Hailey Starling said: "On the last Monday of the month we always host a bingo night, when suddenly a group of chaps walked in with a load of magazines.
"They were waving the magazines in people's faces. One chap held a magazine right under my nose.
"It wasn't until about 10 minutes after he left that I realised my phone had been swiped.
"It was a calculated move, very clever and very fast.
"I am absolutely gutted, I feel like I have been violated in my own pub.
"It was literally done right under my nose."
The landlady called Norfolk police as soon as she realised what had happened.
There are also reports that the group then tried to target the King's Head, at nearby Woodton, but found that it has closed down.
Four hours after the raid, the tracker on Ms Starling's iPhone showed it was in London.
WHAT THE POLICE SAY
The victims have expressed frustration that the gang were not caught on the night, but Norfolk and Suffolk police say the only call they received while the raids were ongoing was from Tan Republic.
By the time the other offences were reported, the group had moved on.
Ms Ozboyaci, of Tan Republic, said: "It does feel frustrating that the men were not stopped. You could see what was happening on Facebook.
"There were all these reports. The victims were all getting in touch with each other.
The crime wave is being investigated by Norfolk and Suffolk police.
A spokesman for Suffolk police said that it was liaising with the Norfolk force, but that it was not aware any actual offences had taken place on its side of the border, as the thefts were thwarted.
Norfolk police said that investigations were ongoing and that it was too soon to say if the incidents were linked.
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