Police are asking for the public's help to trace a distraction thief.

He is wanted over the theft of a Samsung S3 smart phone from a member of staff at Malibu hairdressers, in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, on October 22. 

At around 10.20am, he entered the shop and asked if there were any job vacancies.

At the same time, he obscured a counter with a piece of paper and took the phone from underneath.  

The CCTV has been passed to the Guardian as part of a joint venture with the Met to identify potential perpetrators of unsolved crimes in the borough.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Waltham Forest police quoting 4921666/14 on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.