A man in his 50s was robbed of his luxury £28,000 Rolex watch by two men who tackled him from behind while walking with his wife in Camden.
Detectives on Monday launched an appeal to trace the two men who pulled the man and his wife to the floor and ripped his black and gold Rolex Yacht Master off his wrist just before 7pm on Camden’s Frognal Way on September 13.
After stealing the watch, which had a black rubber strap, the thieves ran off in the direction of Frognal Road.
A member of the public who tried to help the couple called police, who searched the area but could not find the two men.
Officers said the victims were shaken but did not suffer any serious physical injuries.
Met Sergeant Max Pennington said: “The man and his wife were on their way home after enjoying a night out when this horrible incident happened.
“I'm keen to hear from anyone who can identify the two men. I also want to hear from any jewellers or pawnbrokers who might have been offered the watch for sale."
Watches matching the description given by police retail for as much as £28,000 on the Rolex website.
Police want to speak to the two men pictured and ask anyone who can identify them to call 101 or post @MetCC ref CAD 7126/13 Sept.
Alternatively to remain 100% anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Street robbery in London has soared by 16.6% in 12 months with 2,533 offences in October alone, according to the Met’s monthly crime dashboard.
It comes amid a string of high profile watch muggings in the capital.
In October, a machete-wielding teenager who threatened to cut off singer Aled Jones’s head as he robbed the star of his £17,000 Rolex watch was locked up.
The 52-year-old Welsh baritone was walking along Chiswick High Road with his son on July 7 when the 16-year-old boy attacked him.
In a separate incident, a teenager who smashed the side of a £3million Bugatti with a hammer during a robbery spree through Mayfair was sentenced to 16 months in July.
The then 15-year-old donned a Deliveroo uniform as a disguise when brothers Justin and Bradley Rizza - both wearing expensive Rolex watches - were targeted as they walked through Cadogan Square carrying Fortnum and Mason shopping bags.
England tops the world league table of luxury watches heists, according to global crime prevention database The Watch Register.
The number listed stolen or missing has soared by 60 per cent since 2021, with five times more crimes happening here than even the US or Germany. Rolexes account for 44 per cent of all thefts.
Katya Hills, managing director of The Watch Register, said: “Recent records show a concerning surge in the registration of luxury watches that have been stolen or lost.
“The considerable value and prestige of these high-end timepieces continues to attract the attention of sophisticated and international criminal networks, making them a prime target for theft.
“The increasing number of stolen luxury watches also serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced in safeguarding such high-value possessions and we advise owners to make sure that they have adequate insurance for their watch, to keep photographs of their watch and to make a note of their watch’s unique serial number, which will aid its recovery in the event of it being lost or stolen.”
