Two thieves knocked a jeweller unconscious and stole more than £30,000 worth of watches, earrings, bracelets and brooches in a vicious robbery in central London.
Officers were called at around 7.30pm on Wednesday to reports that a man, aged 59, had been viciously assaulted and robbed on Bishops Bridge Road in Paddington.
The jeweller had been visiting a watch repairer he had known for several years in Queensway Market, Met Police said.
It is believed the two men lay in wait outside the shop before following him down road.
When the victim reached Bishops Gate Road, one of the thieves grabbed his bag before dragging him to the ground and knocking him out cold.
The first suspect then fled on foot and has been described by police as “of Arabic or Asian appearance, in his mid to late 20s with a short cropped beard and of stocky build”.
The second suspect who drove away on a motorbike is believed to be the same age with a “short cropped beard without a moustache and wearing a black baseball cap, black jacke, grey jogging bottoms and black trainers.
Officers investigating the robbery have released CCTV images of the two men they want to speak to in connection with the incident.
The suspects took more than £30,000 of jewellery from the victim, including five watches as well as other valuable items.
The stolen watches included a Breitling Premier, a Cartier Pasha, a Gerald Genta, a Patek Phillipe, and a Blanc Pain.
The victim was treated at the scene by the London Ambulance Service before being taken to hospital with head injuries.
PC Richard Sutton, from the Met’s Central West Command Unit, said: “This was a horrific incident which has had a significant impact on the victim’s life, leaving him with short term memory loss.
“We believe someone somewhere will recognise either or both of the men in these images and we urge them to get in touch and help us with our investigation.
“Similarly we are releasing images of the items stolen and would ask members of the public as well as pawnbrokers to check whether they have seen or been sold these items in recent months.”
