This is the moment a brazen thief waves at CCTV cameras as he steals a pot plant from outside a family-run business.

Footage shows the yob strolling across the street and picking up the floral display, which he smells, before casually carrying it away.

Moments earlier, the tracksuit-wearing thief cheekily acknowledged the security cameras outside the Food to Go shop in Evesham, Worcestershire.

Owners David and Caroline Davis were shocked when they checked their CCTV cameras after noticing one of their plant pots was missing on August 14.

David, 52, said: ‘We’ve run this business for four years and never had any issues with thefts until now.

This is the moment a brazen thief waves at CCTV cameras as he steals a pot plant from outside a family-run business

 Footage shows the yob strolling across the street and picking up the floral display

‘We noticed one of our plants was missing and when we checked the security cameras were shocked. 

‘He’s walked in, waved at the camera, picked it up and sniffed then walked off with it.

‘They’re begonias. We don’t sell them, they’re for decoration on our little terrace. We’re a food business, they’re there to brighten the place up.

‘It’s part of our decoration, there’s a whole row of them that separate us from another different carpark.

‘They’re only about £30. It’s not the value, it’s the fact that we’ve grown them. It’s the waving at the CCTV that gets me.

‘It’s the only time it’s ever happened. We’ve never been broken into or robbed from.’

Caroline, 44, followed a trail of petals but it ended abruptly across the street, leading the couple to think the thief escaped in a car.

Father-of-five David added: ‘Nobody has come forward and the police are keeping quiet about it.

‘I went on Facebook myself and asked who the individual is. Someone is sat there with a nice pot plant in their front garden.

The thief is seen smelling the contents of the pot before casually carrying it away

Caroline, 44, followed a trail of petals but it ended abruptly across the street, leading the couple to think the thief escaped in a car

‘Me and Caroline both think there was a vehicle parked around the corner. You wouldn’t want to carry it because it’s quite heavy.

‘There were some petals on the floor that we followed and then it suddenly stopped.

‘The way he was looking, I wonder if there was someone egging him on.

‘They do look lovely. I’ve had to spread the others out to make sure there’s no gap.’

West Mercia Police have been approached for comment.