In a brazen midday theft, British comedian Cally Beaton had her bag stolen from directly under her chair while dining with a friend in central London. The incident, captured on CCTV, exposes the audacious tactics of thieves operating in the capital and coincides with shocking new data revealing a multi-million pound epidemic of luxury item thefts.
The Brazen Marylebone Diner Theft
Cally Beaton, 56, was enjoying a meal on Marylebone High Street when two men executed what she described as their 'signature robbing move'. Footage shows one man returning from the toilet and using his foot to sweep her bag, which was beneath her chair, towards him. He then placed it inside his rucksack and left swiftly.
Meanwhile, a second man headed to the toilet, later exiting the premises. Ms Beaton, who had her back to the pair, continued her conversation completely unaware her belongings had been taken. She later shared the CCTV on social media to her 247,000 followers, praising the diner staff and warning others to 'stay safe out there'.
The Metropolitan Police responded to her post online, asking her to provide further details via direct message.
A £5.5 Million Luxury Theft Crisis
This personal crime underscores a much larger trend plaguing London. According to exclusive figures obtained by the Daily Mail via a Freedom of Information request, thieves have stolen over £5.5 million worth of luxury watches, handbags, and jewellery from Londoners in just 19 months.
The data, covering reports to the Met Police between January 2024 and August 2025, shows 3,207 high-end items, each valued at over £1,000, were snatched. The real total value is likely far higher, with individual watches valued up to £30,000.
Unsurprisingly, Westminster was the biggest hotspot, with 363 handbags, 309 watches, and 104 jewellery items stolen in this central borough alone. It is home to numerous high-end designer stores, making it a prime target for thieves.
Alarming Recovery Rates and Top Targets
While the Met insists it is cracking down, the figures reveal an alarmingly low success rate for recovering stolen goods. Of the 1,036 jewellery thefts, police recovered just one item—a success rate of less than 0.1%. Only three of 792 stolen watches and six of 727 stolen handbags were retrieved.
The most targeted brands include:
- Watches: Rolex (over 400 thefts), followed by Cartier and Omega.
- Handbags: Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Gucci.
- Jewellery: Items from Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Tiffany.
The data defines luxury items as watches worth over £3,000 and jewellery or handbags valued above £1,000. High-profile victims of similar street robberies in the past year have included actress Genevieve Chenneour, presenter Christine Lampard, and model Brittny Button.
Ms Beaton's experience serves as a stark reminder for both Londoners and visitors to remain extremely vigilant with their personal belongings, even in seemingly safe, crowded environments.
