Thieves steal tourists’ cash, jewellery and passports within minutes of their arrival at Heathrow by

Tourists had their holiday ruined within minutes of arriving in Britain after they were targeted by brazen thieves who swiped their bag in an airport.

A thieving couple distracted holidaymakers in a phone shop in Heathrow Airport before escaping in a getaway car with money, jewellery and passports.

CCTV footage shows Daniel Kennedy, 54, and Denise Blackburn, 45, of Southwark, laughing at their targets, who had just landed on a flight from Ghana, before hatching a plan.

When the victims turn their backs to the luggage trolley, the pair make a move to swipe their bags.

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CCTV footage shows a couple laughing as they watch travellers with mountains of bags in a phone shop in Heathrow Airport

Blackburn slowly wanders over to stand next to one of the victims at the shop counter and blocks his view of the luggage.

Meanwhile Kennedy holds his jacket to cover his arm as he quickly brushes past the trolley before grabbing a handbag which he stuffs away.

The thieves then rush to leave the shop with the valuable belongings, including cash and an expensive watch.

Once the the victims realised their bag was missing, they reported it to the police who quickly set about tracing the thieves.

Police officers trawled through CCTV from the airport to track the criminals and were able to find them within 48 hours.

Officers discovered they had tried to throw off the scent by driving into the airport carpark before their son Ryan Kennedy, 19, drove them out while they hid in the back covered with a jacket.

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Police went to the home of the couple to arrest them and found money, an Armani watch - which Blackburn was wearing - and a quantity of cannabis.

All three pleaded guilty to the offences against them at Isleworth Crown Court on Monday.

Daniel Kennedy was jailed for two years and eight months for theft, driving otherwise in accordance with a license and driving with no insurance. He is also disqualified from driving for 16 months.

Blackburn was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, for theft and possession of cannabis.

Denise Blackburn

Ryan Kennedy

Daniel Kennedy

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My view: These three lowlifes should have had 10 years each, they're so dumb for stealing at the airport, when there are CCTV everywhere. The woman looked unkempt.