Police go undercover to catch luxury watch robbers

Two undercover policing operations to catch luxury watch robbers in west London have resulted in 27 attackers being charged.

Between April and September 2022, more than 300 luxury watches were reported stolen across Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham.

Suspects targeted victims leaving pubs and nightclubs, most of whom were intoxicated and in a vulnerable state, the Met said.

The suspects offered drugs and sex workers before taking them to quiet side streets to rob them or approached them from behind before violently attacking them.

Between October and December 2022, and March to October 2023, undercover officers wearing luxury watches posed as members of the public at times and locations where criminals were known to operate.

The two operations focused on Soho – which along with the other hotspots of Mayfair and the south part of Kensington and Chelsea – accounted for 40 per cent of all watch robberies in London at the time.

The operations resulted in 31 arrests and 27 charges, leading to 21 convictions to date. 

Of this group of 21, 14 individuals have been sentenced to a total of 26 years, with other cases pending.

The first operation from October to December 2022 saw a drop of 28 per cent in watch robberies across the three boroughs by the end of the three months.

The second operation from March to October 2023, reduced watch robberies by 15.8 per cent across the three boroughs.

Ben Russell, commander for Met intelligence, said: “This is a rare chance to give the public insight into the work done by our undercover officers.

“Undercover operations will always carry an element of personal danger and, while we risk assess all our operations thoroughly, all the officers involved demonstrated extraordinary courage and determination.”

(Picture: The Met)