Art-ful dodger! Damien Hirst shares video he claims shows ‘begger’ using distraction trick to steal his mobile from table outside Mayfair restaurant
- Damien Hirst was dining at Scott’s in Mayfair, London, when his phone was taken
- Claimed a boy who showed him a piece of paper took his mobile from the table
- CCTV footage showed the moment the boy unfolded the paper on Wednesday
- Hirst said the boy used the paper to block his view of his phone before taking it
Artist Damien Hirst has shared a video showing the moment he thinks his phone was stolen by a boy pretending to be a beggar.
Hirst, 55, was dining at Scott’s in Mayfair, London, when his mobile was taken by an alleged thief who distracted him with a piece of paper, he claimed.
The modern artist shared footage of the incident to his Instagram on Wednesday, but the incident is thought to have occured before the nationwide lockdown came into force on November 5.
CCTV footage taken from outside the restaurant shows a young man approaching Hirst while he sits at his table.
He begins to unfurl a piece of paper in his hands, shielding the device from Hirst’s view.
Damien Hirst, 55, was dining at Scott’s in Mayfair, London, when his mobile was taken by an alleged thief (pictured) who distracted him with a piece of paper, he claimed
The modern artist shared footage of the incident to his Instagram on Wednesday, but the incident is thought to have occured before the nationwide lockdown came into force on November 5. Pictured, Hirst with a piece of his artwork
One person viewing the CCTV footage can be heard saying: ‘F****** hell these kids are quick.’
The video then cuts away to when the man has left, apparently with the mobile in his possession.
Hirst, originally from Bristol, posted a photo of the young man and said: ‘Gotta be careful these days.
‘My phone got nicked off the table at Scott’s restaurant while I was having lunch by this young kid.
The video then cuts away to when the young man (pictured) has left, apparently with the mobile in his possession
CCTV footage taken from outside the restaurant shows a young man approaching Hirst while he sits at his table. Pictured, Scott’s in Mayfair
‘He pretended to be begging and showing me a bit of paper while he swiped my phone!
‘I feel like a d***, food was good though. Glad it wasn’t my wallet..’
Hirst first came to prominence in the 90’s as part of the Young British Artists movement and has since then gathered a net worth of a reported £315 million.
Some of his most famous works include: ‘The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living’ which involved a tiger shark being preserved in formaldehyde in a glass case.
Others include ‘For the Love of God’ a platinum cast human skull covered in over 8,600 diamonds which cost the artist £14 million to make.
Charles Saatchi and Hirst (pictured together) had a close relationship in the 90’s after the art collector bought numerous amounts of Hirst’s artwork. ‘The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living’ (pictured) involved a tiger shark being preserved in formaldehyde in a glass case
‘For the Love of God’ was a platinum cast human skull covered in over 8,600 diamonds which cost the artist £14 million to make. Picured, Hirst’s girlfriend Sophie Cannell with the creation
Scott’s Restaurant is also popular among many high profile celebrities.
It is infamous for being the site of an argument between Nigella Lawson and Charles Saatchi, in which Saatchi was pictured appearing to strangle Lawson.
Charles Saatchi and Hirst had a close relationship in the 90’s after the art collector bought numerous amounts of Hirst’s artwork.
MailOnline has approached Scott’s restaurant for comment.