Masked Duo’s Bold £15,000 Rolex Heist in Epping
Just before 11.30am on Monday 27 September 2021, two men wearing eerily realistic full-face latex masks that made them look like elderly gentlemen rocked up to a jewellery store on Epping High Street. They forced their way inside after threatening staff to let them in.
Knives, Cable Ties, and a Daring Robbery
Once inside, the pair dragged a staff member to the office, tied them to a chair with cable ties, and ripped a valuable Rolex watch off their wrist. Armed with a knife and a hatchet axe, the robbers ransacked the staff area before the alarm was raised. They fled swiftly in a waiting vehicle.
Brothers Caught After Mask Clues and DNA Evidence
Weeks later, police patrolling Canvey Island stopped a car driven by George Murphy-Bristow. In the boot, officers found the very same type of masks and clothing used in the robbery, plus a black duffel bag holding the hatchet, knife, and cable ties. George was arrested on the spot.
Forensic scientists extracted saliva from inside the masks, matching DNA to George and his older brother Benjamin Murphy. Both men were arrested separately in June 2021 but refused to answer questions.
Trial and Sentence: Brothers Locked Up for Decade+
Benjamin, 37, and George, 28, both from Dewey Road, London N1, denied the robbery at their first court appearance but a jury at Basildon Crown Court took just over an hour to convict them following a three-day trial.
- Benjamin Murphy was found guilty of robbery and two counts of possession of a bladed article. He was slammed with an 18-year sentence.
- George Murphy-Bristow was convicted of robbery, two counts of possession of a bladed article, and going equipped for theft. He received 13 years behind bars.
“Benjamin Murphy and his brother George Murphy-Bristow planned this robbery, using masks to dodge detection,” said Detective Inspector Yoni Adler of the Serious and Organised Crime Unit. “It was forensic analysis and proactive policing that nailed them. Thanks to the store staff for their bravery during this frightening ordeal. I hope they can now move on.”
Despite the harsh sentences, the stolen Rolex, worth £15,000, remains missing.
