Algerian migrants stole two designer watches price £80k from black cab passengers after coming over from France three months earlier, court docket hears

Algerian migrants stole two designer watches worth £80,000 from black taxi passengers after arriving from France three months before.

Ayoub Harek, 23, and Txomin Huare Place, 30, approached their victims on Lime Bikes before riding off in a quick getaway.

They allegedly stole a £22,000 watch from Eric Yau as he got out of a cab in Westminster on June 20.

Three days later Eric Willoughby had his £60,000 Patek Phillipe Perpetual Calendar watch stolen in Kensington.

Prosecutor Ellen Alexander told Westminster Magistrates’ Court: ‘Both of these defendants worked together and planned robberies for high value watches.

‘They followed their victims on Lime Bikes and waited for them to exit the cabs. The same defendants rode off on the same Lime Bikes.’

Mr Yau ‘suffered injuries’ after chasing the defendants, the court heard.

Wearing a blue tracksuit, Harek appeared in the dock alongside Huare Place, who was wearing a grey prison tracksuit.

Ayoub Harek, 23, and Txomin Huare Place, 30, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court

They are alleged to have stolen two designer watches worth £80,000 from black taxi passengers

The bearded men spoke to confirm their names and date of births, assisted by an Arabic interpreter.

Harek, of no fixed address, and Huare Place, of Lewisham, southeast London, are both charged with two counts of robbery each.

No pleas were entered, but they are expected to plead not guilty to all charges.

Kiran Hirani, defending Harek, said: ‘He has an Algerian passport. He came to the UK three months ago via France.

District Judge Briony Clarke said: ‘I accept you have not been convicted yet.

‘However, we have heard you have allegedly worked as part of a group, carefully planned, with the same methods.

‘If you are convicted, you face a significant sentence of imprisonment.’

They were remanded in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 8 December.