Undercover Officers Target Luxury Watch Robbers in the West End and Soho

The Metropolitan Police have revealed an innovative undercover operation aimed at tackling the escalating issue of luxury watch robbery in London’s West End and Soho. This data-driven, intelligence-led initiative marks a new, precise approach to combating crime affecting London’s communities.

Statistics from April to September 2022 indicated over 300 luxury watches were stolen in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and Hammersmith & Fulham. The modus operandi of the suspects involved targeting victims, often intoxicated and vulnerable, as they left pubs and nightclubs. The criminals would initially offer drugs or sex workers to the victims, luring them to secluded side streets for the robbery. In some cases, they employed violent tactics, attacking the victims from behind to steal their valuable possessions.

To curb this surge in watch robberies, the Met’s Covert Policing Command and central London robbery team launched two distinct operations. These involved undercover officers wearing luxury watches and posing as potential targets in areas and times known to be frequented by the criminals, with the goal of apprehending them in the act.

The first operation, running from October to December 2022, and the second, from March to October 2023, were centered in Soho, a significant hotspot alongside Mayfair and southern Kensington and Chelsea. These areas accounted for 40% of all watch robberies in London at the time. The operations led to 31 arrests, 27 successful charges, and 21 convictions. Notably, 14 individuals have been sentenced to a total of 26 years, with other cases still pending.

“This is a rare chance to give the public insight into the work done by our undercover officers, which resulted in 31 robbers arrested in a 12-month period, all caught red-handed trying to steal high value watches in the heart of the West End. Fourteen have already been sentenced, with more awaiting sentencing and other cases pending. Using data and intelligence, we identified the locations and times where these crimes were taking place and deployed undercover officers into the area, as part of our precision-based approach to fighting crime. By targeting the people causing the most harm and the locations most frequently linked to crime, we are having a greater impact on keeping our communities safe. 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.” – Ben Russell, Commander for Met Intelligence.

The effectiveness of these operations is evident in the significant reduction of watch robberies across the three boroughs. The first operation witnessed a 28% drop, while the second operation noted a 15.8% reduction. Comparing the summer months before and after the operations, the number of robberies halved, underscoring the impact of these targeted measures.

The Met’s strategy extends beyond undercover operations. It includes proactive patrols, insightful intelligence gathering, and public awareness campaigns. The ‘Look Up, Look Out’ initiative encourages vigilance and discreet handling of valuables. For high-value watch owners, the Met advises photographic documentation, property marking, and registering on property databases to aid recovery efforts in case of theft.

For further information and guidance on preventing street robbery, the public can visit the Met’s website at www.met.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/protect-yourself-from-crime/mugging-street-robbery.