UK watch robbers jailed after violent campaign

Group of eight men brutally attacked victims in six-month spree

The Harrods store in Knightsbridge outside which Omani student Mohammed Al Amairi died. Stephen Lock for The National 

A gang who targeted the luxury watches of wealthy foreigners in London during a six-month campaign of violent street robberies have been jailed.

Eight members of the group stole watches worth £280,000 during a campaign focused on some of the UK capital’s wealthiest districts including Mayfair and Knightsbridge between May and November last year.

Police said the group used a “shocking level of violence” throwing their victims to the ground and ripping watches from their wrists.

Most of the attacks were at night but one took place during the day when the gang mistook a cheap fake Rolex watch for the real thing.

In one case, the group forced their way into the house in early morning and threatened to stab the residents with bottles and a knife before escaping with two watches. The eight were caught after they were spotted on security cameras.

Many of the victims had left the country and gave evidence by video link. The robbers, aged between 18 and 31, were jailed for between four and 11 years.

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