METROPOLITAN POLICE ESTIMATE £1M IN MONTHLY WEST END WATCH THEFTS

The Metropolitan Police estimates that thieves steal about £1 million worth of luxury watches each month in London’s West End. Detective Sergeant Andy Swindells gave the estimate in a statement read to Southwark Crown Court during the sentencing of three men. The men were involved in the robbery of a £137,000 Richard Mille watch belonging to Romanian fashion entrepreneur Catalin Botezatu. The robbery took place outside a luxury restaurant in Mayfair.

Metropolitan Police figures presented to the court covered Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and Hammersmith and Fulham. The force recorded 97 watch robberies or attempted robberies across those boroughs in the first six months of 2026. Police said thieves stole a further 70 expensive watches between July and September. The earlier figure includes attempted robberies; the later figure counts watches that police said were stolen.

Police linked the robberies to organised gangs targeting wealthy diners and visitors. Swindells said attackers had punched and kicked victims during some robberies. The account also described injuries and threats with knives. “Despite all of our efforts, high-value watch robbery remains a problem in the West End,” Swindells said.