This is the shocking moment a brazen thief tried to steal a Brit's mobile phone in Barcelona as he was filming his romantic proposal to his girlfriend. Charlie Bullock, 30, had taken his partner of a year-and-a-half to the Catalan capital to ask her to marry him on Sunday when his plans were derailed.
![[The two pause to embrace, leaving the phone unattended, as members of the public look on]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/12/93272869-14205659-image-a-4_1734525979132.jpg)
Hannah McNaghten was taken by surprise when Charlie got down on one knee, but their special moment was spoiled by a crook trying to snatch the phone recording it. When Hannah shouted out, quick-thinking Charlie jumped into action and, in a blaze of courage, confronted the thief who 'immediately' handed the phone back.
![[The camera picked up the moment an opportunistic thief grabbed the phone]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/12/93272871-14205659-image-a-3_1734525958845.jpg)
'It ruined the moment slightly,' Charlie, from Newbury, Berkshire, later admitted. 'I just wanted to propose to my girlfriend and some lovely guy wanted to steal my phone. Charlie had set up his phone to capture the special moment in front of the Arc de Triomf.
![[Hannah was unaware of what was going on, and thought they were just going to take a photo]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/12/93272877-14205659-image-a-2_1734525940764.jpg)
The two pause to embrace, leaving the phone unattended, as members of the public look on. The camera picked up the moment an opportunistic thief grabbed the phone. Telecommunications engineer Charlie had taken Hannah to the popular tourist spot over the weekend with plans to propose.
![[Telecommunications engineer Charlie had taken Hannah to the popular tourist spot over the weekend with plans to propose]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/12/93272873-14205659-image-a-5_1734526033604.jpg)
Arc de Triomf, installed for the 1888 Barcelona World Fair, still attracts hosts of tourists and street vendors, but sees it fair share of opportunistic thieves, too. Charlie had propped his phone up on a wall for just a moment as the two posed for a picture, with Hannah totally unaware of what was to come.
![[The video cuts out as the crook, seen in a black coat, walks past and picks it up]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/12/93272875-14205659-image-a-6_1734526048301.jpg)
