CCTV footage has captured the moment a gang fled after stealing a tool worth more than £20,000 from a Silvertown construction site.
It took less than a minute for the thieves to grab the surveying equipment and speed away from the scene.
Four men in black Audi, vehicle registration VK56 LKX, drove through a security gate in the afternoon raid on Ballymore, North Woolwich Road.
One leapt out of the back of the car, ran over and snatched the equipment, said Craig Brown, plant and transport manager at ODG Plant Hire, whose staff were on site.
The suspect was challenged by one of the site team but managed to escape by jumping head first into the vehicle, which sped off with its rear door still open.
Police are investigating the incident, which took place at 2.40pm on Thursday, December 7.
Enquiries continue with no arrests made.
Officers ask anyone with information to call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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