Algerian Gang Steals £65k Watch in Mayfair

0:00On March 23rd, two Algerian men in their 20s have been sentenced to prison for stealing a 65,000-pound Patek Philippe watch from A. Driver posing with his Bentley and London's upscale Mayfair district. Belal Amin, 26, got four years while Gabriel Kamali, 23, received three years for the robbery on May 11th last year. The pair, who entered the UK illegally by small boat in 2019, targeted Bay Sart Krasniki as he stood outside a cafe with his pregnant wife. Amin grabbed the watch and a coordinated snatch, with Kamali acting as lookout after spotting its value, and a third man helping them escape downside. Streets, Krasniki chased them but got shoved to the ground. In court, the victim shared how he'd unknowingly photographed one robber moments before, aiding police. Defenders noted the men's regrets and asylum status, but judge parents called it a deliberate group hunt for wealthy targets. People face automatic deportation after serving time.

1:02Mayfair has turned into a hotspot for such crimes, without gerying gang shifting from phone thefts to high-value watches amid a police crackdown that cut mobile snatches by about 10,000 last year. Recent victims include a BBC presenter, Maud Dalsada Restra. Experts say these groups adapt fast, weighing risks against bigger rewards from luxury items. These are racing to catch up and disrupt the trend before it escalates further in the capital.