Two Algerian migrants have been sentenced to prison for stealing designer watches worth over £100,000 from passengers in black taxis in London. Txomin Huare-Place, 30, and Ayoub Harek, 23, were convicted after targeting affluent individuals in the West End. Both defendants required an Arabic interpreter during their sentencing at Southwark Crown Court. They were apprehended by police after being spotted loitering outside the Millennium Hotel in Knightsbridge on November 9 last year. An investigation revealed they had stolen high-value watches from victims in the vicinity, including three Patek Philippe timepieces valued at £32,000, £44,000, and £60,000.
Details of the Thefts
The court heard that the first theft occurred on July 7, 2022. Mark Watkin-Jones was dining with his partner and friends when Huare-Place stole his £32,000 Patek Philippe watch as he entered a taxi. Prosecutor Natalia Williams stated, "They ran from the cab towards the steps leading to Upper Thames Street. The driver called 999, and police attended. The incident lasted between 10 and 20 seconds and occurred at dusk."
On June 20, 2025, Eric Yau was robbed of his £44,000 Patek Philippe watch, a wedding gift, by both Huare-Place and Harek. He had been dining with his wife and hailed a taxi on St James Street. Ms. Williams said, "Upon exiting the cab, he was attacked by two males. They went directly for his watch and tore it off his left wrist. He chased them but they were too fast and cycled toward Lambeth Bridge."
Just three days later, the pair snatched Eric Willoughby's £60,000 Patek Philippe watch. Ms. Williams explained, "They grabbed him with such force that he spun around toward the male committing the act. Despite his shouts, the assailants fled before bystanders could intervene. CCTV footage from the incidents allowed officers to identify the defendants."
Sentencing and Judge's Remarks
Huare-Place, of Lewisham, southeast London, was sentenced to three years and nine months after pleading guilty to three counts of robbery. Harek, of no fixed address, received a three-year sentence for two counts of robbery. Judge Mark Weekes remarked, "What emerges is a pattern of deliberate, targeted offending in public places against members of the public, involving force to varying degrees. The offenses are aggravated by group offending, the high value of items, and repeated offending within days."
Arrest and Evidence
The pair were arrested outside a Knightsbridge hotel on November 9 after a staff member alerted police. The prosecutor noted that Harek used false documentation to travel internationally, saying, "He flew to Barcelona using travel documents under a different name. He used various passports in different names. Both defendants pre-planned and targeted high-value goods. This was clearly an organized operation."
In a victim statement, Mr. Willoughby said, "Since the robbery, I have experienced heightened anxiety and paranoia in public. It has greatly affected my confidence and sense of security. I frequently feel vulnerable and unsafe in London, a city where I once felt safe."
