Police in London have issued a warning after a rise in thefts at knifepoint of luxury watches in some of the city's most affluent areas.
They said criminals on mopeds or e-bikes have attacked victims wearing expensive watches.
Recent attacks in July include a couple who were followed in Chelsea at 10.10am by a moped rider who threatened them with a machete before they were forced to hand over their Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe watches; two people on a motorbike approached a woman in Chelsea and threatened her with a knife, forcing her to hand over her watch and bracelet; two people on a motorbike knocked down a man in his 50s, then produced a knife and took his £20,000 Rolex watch and his wedding ring.
Detectives investigating the high-value watch robberies are appealing for the public’s help to identify those responsible.
Over recent weeks the number of knifepoint robberies where victims have been ordered to hand over their watches has increased.
In the Metropolitan Police's central zone, which includes Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham, 67 offences were recorded last month, an increase of 60 per cent on the 42 watch robberies in May.
Police said a targeted operation has now been launched by officers in the area to tackle these robberies head-on and prevent them from taking place.
In a statement, the police said that during the summer, bigger crowds of people and more densely packed streets create a more agile operating ground for street robbers.
Det Chief Supt Owain Richards said: “We want people living in and visiting our city to enjoy the summer safely — no one should have to go about their day in fear of thieves.
“Sadly across Westminster and neighbouring boroughs we are seeing a rise in these offences as criminals take advantage of the longer days and the busy streets.
“Extra officers have been put in place in locations where these crimes are most common.
“This is a top priority for us.”
Last year, the murderer of a wealthy Omani student near London department store Harrods, who police believe had gone out with a plan to rob a suitable victim, was sentenced to jail for life.
Badir Al Nazi fatally stabbed Mohammed Al Araimi, 20, the son of Omani developer Sheikh Abdullah Al Araimi, during an attack in 2019 that lasted only eight seconds.
Police believe Al Nazi set his sights on Al Araimi, a student at King’s College London, because he was wearing a £37,000 Patek Philippe watch.
Company profile
Company: Eighty6
Date started: October 2021
Founders: Abdul Kader Saadi and Anwar Nusseibeh
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Hospitality
Size: 25 employees
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investment: $1 million
Investors: Seed funding, angel investors
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Atalanta v Juventus (6pm)
AC Milan v Napoli (9pm)
Torino v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
Sunday
Bologna v Parma (3.30pm)
Sassuolo v Lazio (6pm)
Roma v Brescia (6pm)
Verona v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sampdoria v Udinese (9pm)
Lecce v Cagliari (11.45pm)
Monday
SPAL v Genoa (11.45pm)
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
The biog
Name: Shamsa Hassan Safar
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Degree in emergency medical services at Higher Colleges of Technology
Favourite book: Between two hearts- Arabic novels
Favourite music: Mohammed Abdu and modern Arabic songs
Favourite way to spend time off: Family visits and spending time with friends
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Star%20Wars%3A%20Episode%20I%20%E2%80%93%20The%20Phantom%20Menace
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Big%20Ape%20Productions%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20LucasArts%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsoles%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PC%2C%20PlayStation%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Company profile
Date started: Founded in May 2017 and operational since April 2018
Founders: co-founder and chief executive, Doaa Aref; Dr Rasha Rady, co-founder and chief operating officer.
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: Health-tech
Size: 22 employees
Funding: Seed funding
Investors: Flat6labs, 500 Falcons, three angel investors
