AT first glance these three men appear to be friends enjoying a night out in Bournemouth town centre.

But one of them is unaware he is about to become a victim of theft as the others work together to steal his mobile phone.

While the man on the right places his left arm around the victim’s shoulder in an apparently friendly gesture, the other is stealing his Blackberry phone from his back-left pocket.

But the victim could have the last laugh if members of the public are able to identify the two men, captured on CCTV in Old Christchurch Road at 4.40am on Saturday May 21.

“I am releasing pictures of two men I would like to speak to in connections with the incident, and I would encourage these men or anyone who knows them to contact me urgently,” said PC Austin Kinnane of Dorset Police.

Witnesses and anyone with information can call Dorset Police in confidence on 01202 222222, quoting incident number 21:103 or they can call the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.

Mobile phone tariffs may apply.