Moment Algerian Rolex ripper ambushes businessman in London to grab £30k watch

This is the moment an Algerian Rolex ripper ambushed a businessman on a London street before snatching his £30,000 watch. 

CCTV obtained by the Daily Mail shows Zakaria Snouci approaching his victim – who is dressed in a gilet and smart shirt – on the corner of Porchester Place near Hyde Park.

The 26-year-old can be seen talking with an accomplice before rushing towards the man, grabbing his left arm and tearing the Patek Phillipe timepiece off his wrist in less than two seconds.

Stunned, the victim spins around to see Snouci running away across the street. The thief’s face can be clearly seen underneath his hood. 

Watch robberies are a major problem in London, with 5,180 timepieces worth more than £3,000 snatched in the capital between January 2022 and July 2025. Phones are also a common target, with 71,391 stolen last year. 

Thefts of luxury items are often carried out by organised criminal groups, with Algerian nationals featuring prominently among suspects ending up in court. 

Data compiled by the Met and Apple suggests 28 per cent of phones stolen in Britain end up in Algeria, where they are often sold on in black market bazaars.

Footage obtained by the Daily Mail shows Zakaria Snouci approaching his victim – who is dressed in a gilet and smart shirt – on the corner of Porchester Place near Hyde Park 

The 26-year-old rushes towards the man, grabs his left arm and tears the Patek Phillipe timepiece off his wrist in less than two seconds

Stunned, the victim spins around to see Snouci running away across the street. The thief’s face could be clearly seen underneath his hood – helping the police to identify him

Snouci carried out his robbery on April 19 last year and appeared on at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday. 

The criminal – dressed in a black jumper and aided by an Arabic interpreter – spoke only to admit two counts of theft.

Judge Mark Weekes told him: ‘I am going to order a pre-sentence report which would deal with the question of dangerousness with the case.’

Robbers typically target wealthy Londoners and visitors in high-end areas of the capital, with Porchester Place – a grand street lined by multi-million-pound townhouses – a typical hunting ground. 

Dr Simon Harding, of the National Centre for Gang Research, explained that sophisticated gangs target City workers wearing certain items of clothing and sometimes even imitate their style to blend in.

He said: ‘They will be able to assess and scrutinise somebody within seconds. They will know whether they are likely to fight back and whether they will pursue.

‘There is definitely a particular way some people present, as being affluent, a little bit nonchalant, carefree, and it presents naivete and ignorance.

‘And the people doing this will not look like your average street person, they’ll be smart.’

Souci was remanded to custody ahead of his sentencing on April 23

Aouidj Abderaouf (left) was part of a gang of illegal migrants from Algeria who targeted drinkers in London. The group also included Oussama Fadage (right)

Abderaouf walks past a rucksack that he later made off with. The bag is pictured in the bottom left of this video grab 

One trio, Adam Zawi, Oussama Fadage, and Aouidj Abderaouf, were jailed for between 36 weeks and a year after being caught on camera swiping rucksacks filled with £4,000 worth of laptops, tablets and headphones.

A furious judge described the men – who had arrived by small boat from France – as committed criminals who had abused Britain’s kindness. Zawi, who claimed to be 21, was staying in a taxpayer-funded hotel at the time of the thefts in July.

Earlier this month, BBC Breakfast presenter Ben Thompson said he no longer feels safe in London after his £7,000 Rolex was ripped from his wrist by a gang of muggers.

Mr Thompson, 45, was on his way home from a restaurant in Mayfair, London, when he and his friend Roja Dove were grabbed by six men.

The robbers threw Mr Dove to the ground before snatching his £150,000 diamond-encrusted Patek Philippe watch.

Mr Thompson was then grabbed by three others before the attackers fled, on March 11 last year.

‘After this attack my behaviour has changed – I no longer feel safe in London,’ Mr Thompson said in a victim impact statement read out as two of the gang were jailed this week.

‘I am nervous and jumpy when I hear a jogger or cyclist approaching behind me.’

Danis Tom-Deter 36, and Hocine Boulanouar, 26, were identified by CCTV and jailed. 

Souci was remanded to custody ahead of his sentencing on April 23.