Find the ‘hugger muggers’ who prey on people leaving Christmas parties

A rogue's gallery of robbers and conmen who prey on tourists, shoppers and revellers in London was released by police today.

Detectives appealed for help in identifying the 10 suspects behind a string of attacks on people in Westminster in the past few months.

They include distraction robbers, who target people using hole-in-the-wall cash machines, and so-called "hugger muggers", who pretend to befriend their victims before stealing their phones and wallets.

In pictures: Police appeal for 'hugger muggers'

Police warned that the gangs of thieves are particularly active around Christmas, deliberately targeting the vulnerable — including the elderly and people leaving office Christmas parties who have obviously been drinking.

The gallery of most wanted robbers was released after extensive inquiries had failed to identify them.

* Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Click on the image below to see all the suspects

The images show:

A and B: two suspects wanted for robbing a mobile phone from a woman passenger on a late-night bus;

C: a man who stole a bag of dresses from the Monsoon store in Oxford Street;

D and E: two men who attempted to rob a man outside the Jordanian National Bank in Mayfair. The victim, in his sixties, suffered a broken arm;

F: a man wanted for a robbery in Chippenham Road, Maida Vale. The victim was told he would be stabbed unless he handed over his watch;

G and H: a couple who attempted a distraction robbery on a woman withdrawing £10,000 from a Mayfair bank;

I: a "hugger mugger" robber who approached his victim in Soho Square at 3am and starting dancing and hugging him, stealing his phone and wallet;

J: a robber who rushed at a bank customer and tried to snatch his cash at a Barclays branch in Edgware Road.