Watch supplier discovered useless at his mother and father’ house 24 hours after theft
A watch dealer feared he would be held financially responsible for a robbery in which £2.8million worth of luxury watches were stolen shortly before he was found dead, MailOnline can reveal.
Oliver White died at the family home in Shepperton, Middlesex, just a day after two unarmed thieves entered the 247 Kettles store in affluent Richmond in south-west London last Saturday and stole dozens of high value watches.
Horrifying video footage shows one of the robbers restraining Oliver with a chokehold and grabbing his hands as he whispers into his ear.
His accomplice is seen sweeping up large numbers of watches and putting them into the backpack of the man assaulting the young sales manager.
A close friend of Oliver, who was known as Olli, told MailOnline: ‘He was very depressed after the robbery and was filled with a lot of worry especially after it was established that around £2.8million worth of watches had been stolen.
‘Olli was petrified that he could lose all that he owns and that they might even take his mother’s house.
‘He was also traumatised by what happened and became very fearful about the impact this robbery could have on his and his family’s financial future. He just didn’t know what was going to happen.’
Another friend claimed that Olli’s fears were heightened over concerns about how much insurance cover was in place.
Oliver White with his girlfriend, Alana Dredge. She described it as their ‘last photo together’ taken two weeks ago
Two unarmed thieves (pictured) entered the 247 Kettles store in affluent Richmond in south-west London last Saturday and stole dozens of high value watches
A CCTV image of one of the robbers who stole a number of high-value watches from the shop in Kew Road, Richmond
Video footage showed the robbers sitting opposite Oliver before they lean over his desk
One of them suddenly grabs the dealer by both arms and violently pushes him across the room on his chair into a corner
He said: ‘He wasn’t sure if the insurance would have covered the theft or if there was any insurance at all. The robbery left him broken and combined with the financial uncertainty over who would be responsible he couldn’t see another way out.
‘Olli took it very personally and really believed that he would get all the blame and that it would ruin him.’
Olli, who was reported to be in his mid 20s, lived in Shepperton with his mother Amy and stepfather Mark.
The devastated couple were consoling his heartbroken girlfriend Alana Dredge at the family home today.
A family friend told MailOnline: ‘They are going through an incredible amount of pain and it’s going to take them a long time to get over this. Olli was a wonderful son and partner to Alana, and they had dreams about building a life together but tragically, this robbery has taken this all away.’
A spokesman for 247 Kettles refused to comment when contacted by MailOnline.
Ms Dredge shared on Instagram a picture of herself and her partner on holiday – saying it was ‘our last photo together’, taken just a fortnight ago.
She wrote: ‘My darling boy I can’t believe you’re gone. This was our last photo together. This was only 2 weeks ago and now I’ll never see you again.
‘The last thing you said to me was I love you. I will cherish you forever, being with you was the best 6 years of my life. I hope you are reading this from up there, I will continue to make you proud.’
Ms Dredge has posted online tributes to Oli after he was found dead on Sunday evening after police were called to Shepperton in Surrey
Oliver died at the family home in Shepperton, Middlesex just a day after two unarmed thieves entered the 247 Kettles store in affluent Richmond in south-west London last Saturday
She described how the pair were saving to buy their first home together as she vowed to ‘buy the house you exactly wanted and it’ll be your home’.
Ms Dredge, whose account describes her as a hair extension specialist, revealed she was still sending WhatsApp messages to Mr White’s phone – saying she was ‘hoping this is all a nightmare and you’ll reply’.
She went on to say: ‘I don’t know how I’ll do life without you, my whole world has ended.
‘My life will never be the same again I can’t explain how much I love you. I will never stop loving you – I’m so numb I can’t cry anymore.
‘I have never felt pain like this, you were the only person that could give me comfort like no other and make all my pain go away.
‘Now you’re not here I don’t know what I’m going to do. I love you Oliver more than I can put into words.’
Surrey Police today said they were called to a property in Shepperton on Sunday shortly after 8.15pm, ‘following a report of a concern for safety’.
She wrote of loving him ‘more than I can put into words’, following the tragic news which came a day after he was the victim of a robbery in Richmond, south-west London
The force added: ‘A man in his 20s was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin are aware and are being supported.
‘Enquiries are still ongoing, but his death is not thought to be suspicious.’
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson has said: ‘We are aware of the death of a man in Surrey on Sunday, 26 May. This is being investigated by officers from Surrey Police and is not being treated as suspicious at this time.
‘The man who died was the victim of a robbery at a jewellers in Richmond on Saturday, 25 May.
‘We ask that the privacy of his family is respected at this difficult time.’
