An investigation by BBC Three has revealed the inner workings of organised gangs responsible for a surge in violent watch thefts across London. The documentary, Hunting the Rolex Rippers, exposes how female 'spotters' are used to identify wealthy victims in bars and nightclubs before gang members rob them at knifepoint.
One spotter, using the pseudonym Abi, described her role: 'I'll talk to the guys, see what they're wearing.' If she spots an expensive watch, she alerts gang members who then target the victim, often threatening them with knives and machetes. The Metropolitan Police confirmed these thefts are organised crime.
Gang leader M, who claims to run a large network of full-time thieves, told the BBC: 'All I care about is getting the watches, selling the watches and that's it.' He views victims as 'sources of cash', adding: 'He's wearing a deposit for his house on his wrist, that's money for me.'
More than £50 million worth of watches were reported stolen in London in 2022, according to Met Police data. In the first half of 2023, 3,190 watches were reported stolen, with a fifth involving violence. Celebrities have also been targeted, including singer Aled Jones, whose £17,000 Rolex was taken by a 16-year-old wielding a 23-inch machete.
The teenager, who contacted the BBC after the attack, said: 'Half an hour after I robbed him... the realisation hit me that I'd just done something crazy.' He was later sentenced to a 24-month detention and training order for robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.
The documentary also shows M planning attacks in Mayfair, using young thieves on mopeds to snatch watches while brandishing machetes. During one meeting, thieves brought him a stolen watch valued at £18,000.
