Watch robber sentenced after being caught by officers on patrol

A man who was caught by plain-clothed officers attempting to rob his victim of a £250,000 watch, has been sentenced to two years and four months following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

Four officers were on a proactive patrol in Mayfair on Friday, 1 May, when they spotted a man acting suspiciously on Jermyn Street, they noted he was paying close attention to people as they passed by and was walking slowly.

One of the officers got out of the unmarked car to follow the man. By the time the officer had walked briefly down the road, the man had got on a Lime bike and cycled down the road, before approaching a man from behind, grabbing his wrist and attempting to grab the £250,00 Richard Mille watch.

Despite being on his own, the officer ran and apprehended the suspect, while being supported by a member of the public. He called for backup with other officers arriving within minutes to assist with the arrest of 29-year-old Brahim Keddad.

Today, Brahim Keddad, 29 (09.04.1997) of Seven Sisters Road, Islington was sentenced to two years and four months for attempted robbery at Southwark Crown court.

The Met’s targeted action against theft and robbery continues to deliver results, with watch theft falling across Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham, where these offences are most prevalent.

In the first six months of 2026, watch thefts across the three boroughs fell by more than 50 per cent compared with the same period in 2025 (from 213 offences to 97).

Detective Sergeant Andy Swindells, who led the investigation, said:

“This case highlights the invaluable benefit of plain-clothed officers being on patrol. We were able to spot and arrest Keddad within minutes, returning the valuable watch to its owner and preventing others who live or visit in London from being victims.

“Our work is having an impact, with neighbourhood crime – things like theft and robbery, down by 14% in the past year – the equivalent to 35,000 fewer offences reported across London.

"The Met continues to carry out intelligence-led patrols and targeted operations to identify offenders, disrupt criminal networks and protect the public. As a result, we’re getting more offenders like Keddad off the street.”

Recent figures show theft from the person has fallen by 23 per cent across London, more than 23,000 fewer offences, while personal robbery is down by 11 per cent, nearly 3,000 fewer offences than the previous year.

As a result of targeted patrols and intelligence-led operations, officers are identifying offenders, preventing crime and bringing criminals to justice.

NOTES TO EDITOR

Photo footage available here: https://mps.box.com/s/kdajqwg6jt7wwojw749ivlodlv3uy0g4