Dramatic footage shows an illegal migrant targeting a Tim Hortons boss for his £65,000 Patek Philippe watch in Mayfair.
Businessman Axel Schwan gave chase to Ahmed Djidi, 26, who brazenly stole the timepiece in New Bond Street on June 30 of last year.
Mr Schwan was with his wife when Djidi and two others quietly snuck up behind him and one of them yanked the watch from his arm with “some degree of force”, Southwark Crown Court heard.
Although Djidi didn’t snatch the item himself, he was part of the gang by keeping a watchful eye out for a “valuable wrist” they could steal from.
On October 8, Djidi, of Carlisle Avenue, Acton, was sentenced to 22 months for robbery.
However, the Algerian may be held in immigration detention centre, with the possibility of being sent back to his home country.
Djidi previously pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis for which he was fined £100.
The Daily Mail reported Judge Christopher Hehir told him: “You had two accomplices. The three of you waited on a busy street looking to identify any passerby with a valuable wrist watch that you could steal.
“You stole a Patek Philippe watch from Mr Schwan who was walking on a Sunday afternoon with his wife. Some degree of force was used to grab the watch from his wrist.
“The effect on him and his wife has been considerable. This is a serious offence, and only an immediate prison sentence is appropriate in your case.
“I am told that you are in the country illegally. You have already been in trouble for stealing people’s property in the past.
“In 2022, you received a community order having been involved in a distraction theft of luggage at a London railway station.
“This was a planned theft. You played your part as a lookout with two others. You are not the one who pulled the watch from Mr Schwan’s wrist, but you are equally guilty for what happened.”
While deportation was not a matter for his court, the judge said he couldn’t see how Djidi “remaining in the UK would be conducive to the public good”.
Detective Sergeant Daniel Northcott, of Metropolitan Police’s Central West Command Unit, said: “This investigation has removed a notorious offender from London's streets.
“He snatched watches from the wrists of people walking through the city - making onlookers feel unsafe and leaving a significant, lasting effect on this victim.
“The Met is focused on reducing the number of robberies taking place on the streets of London by targeting robbery hotspots with increased patrols.
“This prevents and deters robberies from taking place, as we work to identify, apprehend and deter potential offenders, and we’re seeing success with personal robbery down 12.8 per cent compared to the same period last year.”
