Met Police Nab 31 Watch Thieves in Undercover Crackdown
The Met has revealed an undercover sting that smashed a watch robbery gang terrorising central London. Using a sharp, intel-led strategy, officers targeted crime hotspots in Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, and Hammersmith & Fulham — areas plagued by over 300 luxury watch thefts in just six months before October 2022.
How the Thieves Operated
Victims were typically mugged after leaving pubs and nightclubs, often intoxicated and vulnerable. The robbers worked a chilling trick: offering drugs or sex workers before dragging victims to quiet side streets to attack and rob them. Others were hit from behind in swift, brutal smash-and-grabs.
Undercover Ops Strike Back
The Met’s Covert Policing Command and central London robbery team launched two high-tech undercover operations. Officers disguised as everyday Londoners flaunted luxury watches in the known trouble zones—Soho, Mayfair, and southern Kensington and Chelsea—that collectively accounted for 40% of London’s watch heists.
- The first sting ran from October to December 2022, slashing watch robberies by 28% across the boroughs.
- The second ran March to October 2023, further cutting thefts by 15.8%.
Comparing summers, watch robberies halved—from 113 in July 2022 to just 55 in July 2023.
Results and Praise for Officers’ Bravery
The two operations bagged 31 arrests and 27 charges, with 21 convictions so far. Fourteen robbers have been jailed for a total of 26 years, with more sentences pending.
Ben Russell, Commander for Met Intelligence: “This is a rare chance to reveal the gutsy work of our undercover officers who caught 31 thieves in just 12 months, red-handed trying to nick high-value watches in London’s West End. These officers showed extraordinary courage and determination.”
“By using data to pinpoint crime hotspots and times, we took out the worst offenders and made our communities safer.”
Tips to Stay Safe and Protect Your Watch
- Photograph your luxury watch for insurance.
- Consider property marking and register items on databases to boost recovery chances.
- Stay alert in nightlife areas; keep valuables hidden.
- Plan your route and watch who’s around with the ‘Look Up, Look Out’ campaign.
- If you witness or suffer a robbery, call 999 immediately—don’t put yourself at risk.
For more crime prevention advice, visit The Met’s mugging and street robbery page.
