"Local Residents" Are Filmed Stealing Dozens of Bottles of Water at London Marathon Stop
Editor's Comment: "Local" residents? We can see they're not locals.
London marathon runners were robbed of dozens of bottled waters when thieves raided a refreshment area armed with trolleys during today's race.
Nearby residents - including parents with children - were captured on camera piling up crates of free water handed out by volunteers during the 26-mile event.
Marathon organisers have this afternoon slammed the water theft as "disappointing" and launched a full investigation.
"It's very disappointing to see water being stolen in this way from the official water stations for our runners," said Hugh Brasher, event director for London Marathon Events Ltd.
"These water stations are staffed by volunteers and we are very grateful to them for their work on race day."
He added: "We always brief our volunteers not to get into altercations if this kind of thing happens.
"We will investigate this further."
It's believed dozens of bottles were stolen from a water station in Deptford, south east London, by around 20 people.
The crates, which are positioned at the side of the London race for competing athletes, were ransacked soon after the race began.
The man behind the camera who filmed the theft said: "I find it absolutely disgusting, absolutely appalling. I don't know why they would do that.
"Why would you go crazy - like animals - and steal all the water? I think it's absolutely vile behaviour."
No arrests have been made so far, say Metropolitan Police.
The bizarre incident didn't overshadow they day however, as winner of the elite women's London Marathon Jemima Sumgong survived a shocking fall and a run in with a spectator to take first place.
Sumgong, 31, banged the side of her head off the road when three runners went down after clashing at a drinks station.
But she powered through to claim an unprecedented victory.
There were more than 37,000 runners in today's race which saw the Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge defend his 2015 title.
