Luxury Watch Shop Manager Takes Own Life After £1.4 Million Heist
A luxury watch store manager tragically ended his life just one day after being brutally robbed of £1.4 million worth of designer watches, a court heard today.
Oliver White, aged 27, was tied up with cable ties and put in a chokehold during a ruthless, pre-planned raid at 247 Kettles in Richmond, west London on May 25, 2024. Two men, pretending to be customers, stole around 80 high-end watches, precious gems, and £155,000 in cash. Shockingly, none of the stolen goods were insured.
The Daring £1.4 Million Robbery
Junior Kuku, 29, from Mitcham, and Mannix Pedro, 37, of Cobham, Surrey, stand accused at Woolwich Crown Court of masterminding the extravagant theft. Three other suspects fled the UK and remain on the run.
CCTV showed Kuku and an accomplice calmly scoping out the pricey timepieces before striking. White was overpowered, restrained, and helpless as the thieves filled a backpack with watches— including a £30,000 Rolex Sky Dweller.
The Tragic Aftermath
“Mr White gave two police statements describing how he was restrained while the robbers grabbed watch after watch,” said prosecutor Edward Brown KC.
The robbers fled in a stolen Audi A3 before switching vehicles to evade capture. The day after the raid, White was found dead in woodland near Shepperton, Surrey. Prosecutors said his death was a “truly tragic postscript” to the crime and a direct result of the trauma he endured.
Meticulously Planned Crime
Months of planning led to the brazen heist, the court heard. The gang conducted surveillance and made an earlier failed attempt two days prior. They communicated obsessively about the store’s stock, targeting specific high-value watches.
Multiple vehicles were used to pull off the quick getaway, including a stolen Audi A3 and a purchased Audi A5. Planning meetings took place in London, Sheffield, and Wolverhampton.
No Sign of the Stolen Loot
The watch shop, fittingly named after Cockney rhyming slang for timepieces (“kettle and hob”), suffered massive losses. The £1.38 million worth of stolen items remain missing, with none recovered.
Pedro was accused of controlling the operation’s logistics and getaway communications. “This is not a crime that happens by chance,” Mr Brown said.
Trial Continues
Both Kuku and Pedro deny conspiracy to commit robbery. The chilling case continues to unravel the robbery and its devastating impact on Mr White and the watch shop.
