Undercover cops in sting as dramatic video reveals thieves ambushed
- Met Police deployed undercover cops posing as victims in unprecedented sting
For the Rolex Ripper gangs terrorising the streets of London, the clock is ticking.
As the subsequent time a robber grabs a luxurious watch from a sufferer’s wrist, they could really feel the lengthy arm of the legislation.
Scotland Yard has deployed a squad of undercover officers posing as victims in an unprecedented sting to seize the so-called Rolex Rippers chargeable for a spate of violent watch muggings throughout the capital.
A bunch of plain-clothed officers volunteered to exit carrying worthwhile timepieces after evaluation revealed that thieves have a tendency to focus on well-heeled victims leaving pubs and golf equipment between 11pm-4am, Thursday to Saturday nights in Soho, the place 40 per cent of London’s watch robberies happen.
In a extremely focused operation, undercover officers have been despatched to streets identified to be hotspots late at night time the place they rapidly fell prey to robbers, who have been unaware that they have been the actual targets.
The subsequent time a robber grabs a luxurious watch from a sufferer’s wrist, they could really feel the lengthy arm of the legislation. Pictured: Cops pose as victims to catch theives
Scotland Yard has deployed a squad of undercover officers posing as victims in an unprecedented sting to seize the so-called Rolex Rippers
The Rolex Rippers have been chargeable for a spate of violent watch muggings throughout the capital
Yesterday the Met launched extraordinary CCTV exhibiting the second that lone undercover officers have been pounced on by hooded thugs ripping watches from their wrist earlier than back-up officers swooped.
The footage reveals courageous officers being grabbed by the throat after being ambushed by as much as 5 robbers in some circumstances.
But inside seconds of finishing up the raid, the culprits have been surrounded by taser-wielding Met officers.
The progressive tactic is alleged to have led to robberies halving in some areas as prolific attackers have been taken off the streets.
Over two operations, which ran from October 2022 to December 2022 and March 2023 to October 2023 respectively, 27 folks have been arrested and subsequently charged.
Yesterday the Met launched extraordinary CCTV exhibiting the second that lone undercover officers have been pounced on by hooded thugs ripping watches from their wrist earlier than back-up officers swooped
Pictured: Sayid Mohamed, Yousef Garef, Diego Farquharson and Amin Abdelkader
Of these, 21 have been convicted. Fourteen have been sentenced to a complete of 26 years in jail.
Between July 2022 to July 2023, watch theft within the boroughs of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and Hammersmith and Fulham plummeted by 50 per cent, dropping from 113 to 55.
The secret operation was launched after a spate of terrifying watch robberies.
In the six months to October 2022, there have been greater than 300 watches stolen within the West End alone value a complete of almost £4million.
In April 2022 former British boxing champion Amir Khan was accosted by a gunman who made off together with his custom-made £72,000 watch as he left a restaurant in east London.
Last July a machete-wielding teenager additionally focused broadcaster and former chorister Aled Jones taking his £17,000 Rolex.
Ben, a Detective Sergeant whose identify has been modified to guard his identification, narrated the movies throughout a press convention at New Scotland Yard.
In the six months to October 2022, there have been greater than 300 watches stolen within the West End alone value a complete of almost £4million
Pictured: Mohammed Hamdani, Ahmed Abdulahi, Ahmed Abdi and Abdullahi Osman
Pictured: Minhaj Hussein, Soul Kwakye-Amgpomah, Mohamed Khadir and Emmanuel Sejilola
Describing an operation which occurred within the coronary heart of Soho on 28 October 2022, he mentioned: ‘In this situation a police officer was approached by a person and requested if he wished to go to a brothel.
‘He was then taken on a walkaround via quiet facet streets, throughout which period he was unknowingly being adopted by 4 different males.
‘When the time is correct, the lads then swarm the officer and rob him.
‘Other cops seem out of nowhere, tackling the criminals to the bottom.’
The similar state of affairs unfolded in different movies – one from Greek Street in Soho on 4 November 2022, and one other from Broadwick Street in Soho on 4 March 2023.
‘In these conditions,’ DS Ben mentioned, ‘one officer was requested if he wish to purchase some weed, earlier than being led right into a quieter place, and one other was befriended – with the criminals asking him to return again to their home.
‘He was then attacked en route.’
He added: ‘Men’s watches are costlier and subsequently value extra in the marketplace, which makes them extra of a goal,’
The progressive tactic is alleged to have led to robberies halving in some areas as prolific attackers have been taken off the streets
Pictured: Shamsi Ali, Omar Hussein, Nahim Ahmed and Damilola Odunoren
Pictured: Isaaq Mohamud, Abdul Azizmohamed, Sharmarke Ali and Daysal Jelali
Met Commander for Intelligence Ben Russell mentioned officers had determined to focus on a number of areas of Westminster after seeing a sample to the thefts.
‘These criminals are hanging outdoors bars and golf equipment as folks go away these venues, hoping to focus on individuals who could also be intoxicated and subsequently susceptible,’ he mentioned ‘They’re additionally pinpointing areas in and round Westminster – comparable to Soho, Kensington, and Chelsea, as they know folks journey there to take pleasure in themselves, and that these individuals are usually fairly prosperous and so could also be carrying good watches.
‘They’re in search of any luxurious watch that may be resold for a excessive worth.
He added: ‘This was a extremely profitable operation, primarily right down to the bravery of our officers who volunteered to face alone in darkish streets in the course of the night time, ready to be robbed.
‘Using information and intelligence, we recognized the areas and instances the place these crimes have been happening and deployed undercover officers into the world, as a part of our precision-based method to preventing crime.
‘By focusing on the folks inflicting essentially the most hurt and the areas most steadily linked to crime, we’re having a higher influence on retaining folks secure.’ Commander Russell warned would-be thieves that their undercover operations within the space will proceed.
‘It will turn into obvious to the gangs that it is a tactic we’re utilizing,’ he mentioned.
‘It will probably be good for the folks making an attempt to hold out these offences, to surprise, is the particular person I’m about to rob a police officer?
‘It could be good to offer these criminals some doubt.’
Commander Russell added: ‘Many of those males have lengthy offending histories and trigger distress in these areas, so it is actually good that they are behind bars.
‘This was a profitable operation, primarily right down to the bravery of our officers who volunteered to face alone in darkish streets in the course of the night time, ready to be robbed.’
Asked whether or not folks ought to keep away from carrying luxurious watches in central London, Commander Russell mentioned: ‘I would not say that.
‘It’s a private selection whether or not or not you put on a luxurious watch.
‘What we’d say to folks is, journey in teams, follow busy areas, and be sure you have insurance coverage.
‘It additionally helps to put on lengthy sleeves when you’re on the road, as this could cowl the watch.
‘It’s all about self-awareness.’
Discussing what somebody ought to do if somebody tries to rob them, he added: ‘It is troublesome to offer recommendation in that state of affairs, since you by no means understand how you’re going to react.
‘Some folks panic, some folks freeze. I might by no means decide anybody in that state of affairs.
Met Commander for Intelligence Ben Russell mentioned officers had determined to focus on a number of areas of Westminster after seeing a sample to the thefts
Asked whether or not folks ought to keep away from carrying luxurious watches in central London, Commander Russell mentioned: ‘I would not say that. It’s a private selection whether or not or not you put on a luxurious watch’
‘But we do usually say do not combat again.
‘And it is troublesome to ask anybody handy over one thing value £100K, or one thing which could have large sentimental worth, however we are saying that as a result of we do not need folks to be severely damage or injured.
‘No weapons have been used or proven throughout this operation, but it surely’s nonetheless a violent, intimidating state of affairs to be in.
‘These criminals are in your face, they’re manhandling you.
‘Generally, being extra passive is a possible solution to keep away from violence.’
Only one Met Police officer was injured within the operation, struggling reddening and bruising to the neck and wrists.
Statistics present that 98 per cent of luxurious watch victims in London have been male, which the drive mentioned is probably going because of the larger worth of males’s watches.
