- The pair ran off with ‘quantity of high value watches’ from shop in Richmond
This is the shocking moment two men put a watch dealer in a chokehold inside his London store before robbing him.
The incident, which took place in a dealership in the affluent area of Richmond in west London at around 2.50pm yesterday, sees the pair run off with a large loot of watches.
Police confirmed the two men were unarmed but that they assaulted the staff member before stealing a ‘quantity of high value watches’.
The victim was not seriously injured during the attack in the shop on Kew Road.
Now horrifying CCTV footage has emerged of the incident which sees one robber put the dealer in a headlock while the other piles watches from the shelves into a bag.
This is the shocking moment two men put a watch dealer in a chokehold inside his London store before robbing him
The incident, which took place in a dealership in the affluent area of Richmond in west London at around 2.50pm yesterday, sees the pair run off with a large loot of watches
The pair are initially sitting at the other side of the desk to the victim, who appears to be fixing a white watch for them.
One man, wearing a grey hoodie and ripped blue jeans, is sat down on a bright orange seat as the dealer goes about his work.
The other, wearing blue jeans, a blue and white t shirt and sunglasses on the top of his head, is stood leaning over the desk while the victim is distracted by the timepiece.
The man on his feet then suddenly grabs the dealer by both arms and violently pushes him across the room on his chair into a corner.
His accomplice then hops into action and dashes to a counter in the store and sweeps up a handful of items – all while the other keeps the victims in a chokehold.
As the dealer tries to wriggle free, the man with the sunglasses seems to tighten his grasp to make sure he does not escape.
The staff member watches on helplessly as the other robber crams the watches into a bag, which is on the back of the man who has him in the headlock.
The victim then stops resisting as the rucksack continues to be filled with items from the store’s shelves.
The pair are initially sitting at the other side of the desk to the victim, who appears to be fixing a white watch for them
The man on his feet then suddenly grabs the dealer by both arms and violently pushes him across the room on his chair into a corner
As the dealer tries to wriggle free, the man with the sunglasses seems to tighten his grasp to make sure he does not escape
The robber even grabs a couple of things to steal from the table, over which the dealer was initially fixing the watch.
Throughout, the man with the sunglasses appears to be speaking to the victim while he keeps him in a firm chokehold.
The other robber meanwhile keeps piling items into the bag and his accomplice turns his attention away from the dealer and starts speaking to him.
The bag-filler then yanks open cabinets and pulls open drawers to grab more watches and add to the loot.
At one point, he seems to take more than he can carry and drops an item onto the shop floor.
The pair appear to decide that they have taken enough and, after a hand gesture from the man with sunglasses, the other robber takes a handful of zip ties from the rucksack and lays them on the table before the video ends.
The Met Police have appealed for anyone who recognises the two men to get in touch.
In a statement, the force said: ‘The incident happened at around 14:50hrs on Saturday, 25 May in Kew Road.
‘Two men, who were not armed, entered the shop and assaulted a member of staff before stealing a quantity of high value watches.
‘The member of staff was not seriously injured.
His accomplice then hops into action and dashes to a counter in the store and sweeps up a handful of items – all while the other keeps the victims in a chokehold
The bag-filler then yanks open cabinets and pulls open drawers to grab more watches and add to the loot
The robber keeps piling items into the bag and his accomplice turns his attention away from the dealer and starts speaking to him
‘Anyone who recognises these two men or has information that could assist police is asked to call 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC and quote CAD4555/25May.
‘You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.’
MailOnline has approached the Met for comment.