Police warn of £1m monthly watch thefts in London West End

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 18:02 · Archive

An average of £1m worth of watches are stolen monthly from people in London's West End, police say.

Police say an average of £1m worth of watches is stolen monthly from people's wrists in London's West End. There were 97 watch robberies, including attempts, across Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and Hammersmith and Fulham between January and June, with a further 70 thefts between July and September. A knife was seen or implied in a fifth of watch robberies over the past six months, and many victims have been punched, kicked and injured. Mayfair and Knightsbridge are particular hotspots.

Three men were sentenced on Friday for stealing a £137,000 Richard Mille watch from Romanian businessman Catalin Botezatu outside Amazonico in Berkeley Square on 28 January. Younes Djoudi, 34, was jailed for five years and nine months; Abdel El Habchi, 30, received five years and six months; and Ali Eldahouzze, 22, was handed three years and six months. Botezatu told the court he feared for his life when the three surrounded him and cut the watch from his wrist.

Judge Dafna Spiro said London ought to be a 'safe city' and that such robberies 'undermine public confidence and damage the reputation' of the city. She described watch robberies as 'an all too familiar feature' of criminality in London.

How it is being reported

• Three jailed after £140,000 luxury watch stolen in knifepoint central London robberyA violent knifepoint robbery involving a £140,000 Richard Mille watch in Mayfair has led to three men being jailed.This Is Local London · 16 Oct, 20:04
• £1million of watches stolen in London’s posh boroughs every month - gang jailed for £137K grabThe 'hotspots' which have seen flashy watches solely targeted are in Mayfair and KnightsbridgeMyLondon · 16 Oct, 17:18
• £1m of watches stolen from people in London's West End every month, police sayAn officer reveals the theft statistics in court as three men are sentenced for a £137,000 robbery.BBC London · 16 Oct, 14:53

In this story: Catalin Botezatu · Younes Djoudi · Abdel El Habchi · Ali Eldahouzze · Metropolitan Police · London West End · Mayfair · Knightsbridge

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