A brazen thief has been caught on camera stealing a Chanel bag from between an influencer’s feet at a West London restaurant. Grace Beverely, the founder of activewear brand TALA, was enjoying a meal at Zephyr in Notting Hill when she was targeted by the quick-fingered opportunist earlier this week.
The entrepreneur had the vintage accessory “squeezed between” her shoes, telling her 268k TikTok followers that she’s normally “very careful” with her belongings. However, deep in conversation with her sister, the 28-year-old failed to notice a man pass by her table in the outdoor dining area.
He is seen carrying multiple shopping bags and dressed inconspicuously, appearing at first glance to look like a busy passer-by or tourist. He then circles past again, this time sitting directly behind Grace as though he is a hungry customer.
The man then pretends to fumble through his bags looking for something, pulling out a top to hide his hands as he’s doing so. Within seconds, Grace’s bag is gone – and so is the culprit.
Sharing the CCTV footage on social media, the native Londoner said she couldn’t believe he managed to get the “whole thing” without her noticing. Finding the funny side, the business-owner quipped: “Please let me know if that’s what my back actually looks like from behind.
“That’s actually one of the most shocking and upsetting things about the video. I look like the Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
Grace turned to influencing after graduating from The University of Oxford. The student turned vlogger founded TALA in 2019 after finding fame on Youtube, and is now though to be worth around £8m.
The business-owner is not the first high-profile victim of bag theft in the capital in recent years, with model Janice Joostema targeted in December 2024. Her Birkin was swiped as she undressed in a VIP changing room on Oxford Street.
In April, former F1 champion Jenson Button and his wife Brittny were also robbed of a suitcase packed with £250,000 worth of luxury jewellery and high-end designer bags. They were helping the chauffer load the car at St Pancras station when a man swooped in and sped away with her Goyard carry-on in the blink of an eye. The Metropolitan Police has been approached for comment.
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