Jobless father-of-three Mario Bustamante-Leiva targeted City workers in London 's bars , cafes and restaurants , stealing £21,000 worth of goods . One of London ’ s most prolific thieves has been jailed for three years after stealing £21,000 worth of phones , wallets and computers during a five-month crime spree . Jobless father-of-three Mario Bustamante-Leiva , 39 , of no fixed address , wore a flat cap and a large overcoat even in the height of summer in order to conceal his pickings . The Chilean national trawled exclusive bars , restaurants and coffee shops looking for laptops , mobile phones , iPods and tablets . The Old Bailey heard in one case he even stole a bag containing an entire family ’ s passports and airplane boarding passes . Police have released CCTV footage which shows the brazen thief swipe an unsuspecting woman ’ s handbag from under her nose as she chats with a friend . Bustamante-Leiva can be seen hooking the bag with his foot before quickly leaving the cafe with the handbag tucked under his coat . He has now admitted 22 charges of theft between July and December 2014 . Judge Christopher Morris QC branded Bustamante ‘ dishonest to the fingertips ’ as he sentenced him to three years in prison . The father-of-three was also sentenced to 12 months to be served concurrently for attempted burglary as he was convicted at Inner London Crown Court last November . Scroll down for video . His crime spree began in July 2014 in the City and his last offence was committed on November 28 2014 , when he stole a bag and ipod at the ‘ Counting House ’ on Cornhill . City of London Police detectives identified him as a suspect in November 2014 after he stole a bag in Catch bar on Liverpool Street . Bustamante-Leiva was caught on CCTV snatching a woman 's handbag as she sat in a London cafe . The footage shows him hooking his foot under the woman 's chair in order to grab her handbag . As a result Crime Squad officers reviewed other similar crimes in the City and found that Bustamante-Leiva had also committed these offences . He was arrested on December 5 2014 when an officer spotted him entering ‘ The Monument ’ public house in the City , whilst listening to an iPod he had stolen from ‘ The Counting House ’ the previous week . ‘ You are dishonest to your fingertips . Over a five month period you committed a series of thefts from the public , over that long period , to a total of some £21,000 , ’ the judge said . ‘ Before you embarked upon that course of conduct , you had also committed the offence of attempted burglary . ‘ I have no alternative , but to order that you be sent to prison. ’ Bustamante-Leiva was arrested at the Monument pub in Fish Street Hill on December 5 whilst listening to an iPod he had stolen from The Counting House in Cornhill the previous week . ‘ All counts relate to the theft of personal property from sandwich shops , bars and pubs in the City , ’ said prosecutor Jennifer Newcomb . ‘ He would enter the premises wearing a flat cap , large coat and backpack or large bag over his shoulder , even in the height of summer . ‘ He would then stand or sit close to a person who had their bag on the floor or the back of a chair . Bustamante-Leiva then quickly ducks and grabs the bag after pulling it from underneath her chair . The footage shows him swiftly leaving the cafe as the unsuspecting woman continues to chat to a friend . ‘ He would observe them and at an opportune moment remove the bag with his foot or the back of his hand . ‘ After he obtained the bag he would hide it under his coat and leave the premises with the bag and its contents. ’ Detective Sergeant David Morgan from the City of London Police said : ‘ These crimes caused a massive inconvenience for the victims , along with anguish for the loss of both valuable and sentimental items , which far exceeds the financial cost of the thefts . ‘ Although this thief is now behind bars we urge the public to be vigilant and look after their belongings when socialising in bars , coffee shops , restaurants and clubs . ‘ If you witness any suspicious behaviour , please contact police immediately . ’
Mario Bustamante-Leiva , 39 , stole wallets and computers worth £21,000 . Chilean targeted City workers in exclusive cafes , bars and restaurants . Even stole a bag containing a family ’ s passports and boarding passes . Judge branded jobless Bustamante-Leiva ‘ dishonest to the fingertips ’ He admitted 22 charges of theft between 21 July and 5 December 2014 . Bustamante-Leiva has now been sentenced to three years in jail .