Algerian Migrants Sentenced for Luxury Watch Heist in Mayfair
Two Algerian migrants have been handed prison sentences after orchestrating a violent robbery to steal a £65,000 watch from a driver in London's exclusive Mayfair district. Belal Amine, aged 26, and Gabriel Kamali, aged 23, both entered the United Kingdom illegally via small boat crossings in 2019. They targeted Besart Krasniqi in a meticulously planned attack on May 11 last year, snatching his high-value Patek Philippe timepiece.
Details of the Planned Robbery
The incident unfolded when Mr Krasniqi, accompanied by his pregnant wife, exited the Hideaway Cafe on Mount Street in Mayfair. As he paused to photograph his Bentley automobile in the sunlight, he inadvertently captured an image of one of the perpetrators moments before the assault. In a swift and coordinated move, one individual aggressively shoved Mr Krasniqi while another ripped the designer watch from his wrist. A third accomplice retrieved the detached leather strap before all three fled through adjacent side streets.
Despite immediate pursuit by the victim, the assailants managed to escape, and the luxury watch remains unrecovered. During the chase, Kamali, identified as the group's spotter for recognizing the watch's genuine high value, forcefully pushed Mr Krasniqi onto a black Mercedes vehicle. The victim promptly contacted emergency services, and a bystander provided photographic evidence of the criminals.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
At sentencing this week, Judge Perrins condemned the robbery as a serious and premeditated group attack, emphasizing that the defendants were deliberately seeking wealthy victims. Kamali pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, while Amine was convicted following a trial. Amine received a four-year prison term, and Kamali was sentenced to three years' imprisonment. Due to the length of their sentences, both face automatic deportation provisions upon release, with the judge explicitly stating his expectation of their removal from the UK.
In mitigation, legal representatives highlighted the defendants' circumstances. Kamali's counsel, Anne Asfaw, expressed his client's remorse and apology to the victim, noting Kamali arrived in the UK as a minor via small boat. Amine's representative, Tim Williams, described him as an asylum seeker prohibited from working, who had aspirations to secure employment and remain in the country—a prospect now extinguished by the conviction.
Rising Crime Trends in Affluent London Districts
This case underscores a broader pattern of criminal activity targeting London's wealthiest neighborhoods, particularly Mayfair. Algerian crime gangs have increasingly shifted from phone snatchings to violent robberies of luxury items like watches, following police crackdowns on mobile thefts. Statistics reveal a decline in phone thefts in London, from 81,365 to 71,391 year-over-year, as criminals adapt their strategies based on risk versus reward assessments.
Recent incidents include a robbery of BBC presenter Ben Thompson and his friend Roja Dove in March, where six men assaulted them and stole a £150,000 Patek Philippe watch. Thompson expressed heightened anxiety and a diminished sense of safety in London following the attack. Investigations indicate that 28 percent of phones stolen in Britain are trafficked to Algeria, positioning it as a leading global destination for such illicit goods ahead of China.
Former Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Inspector David McKelvey commented on the adaptability of these criminal networks, noting that police must respond swiftly to evolving tactics. The concentration of robberies in areas like Mayfair, Park Lane, and Oxford Street highlights ongoing challenges in safeguarding affluent urban zones against organized theft rings.
