Brahim Keddad sentenced for £250,000 Mayfair watch robbery attempt

A 29-year-old man from Islington has been jailed for attempting to rob a pedestrian of a £250,000 watch in Mayfair. Brahim Keddad was sentenced to two years and four months at Southwark Crown Court on 29 July 2026. The offence took place on Jermyn Street on the afternoon of 1 May.

Four plain-clothes Metropolitan Police officers were conducting a proactive patrol in the area when they noticed Keddad acting suspiciously. He was observed paying close attention to passers-by before mounting a Lime bike and approaching a man from behind. Keddad grabbed the victim’s wrist in an attempt to steal the watch, a Richard Mille model valued at a quarter of a million pounds.

A single officer, working alone, ran to intercept Keddad and detained him until backup arrived. A member of the public assisted in restraining the suspect until additional officers reached the scene. The watch was recovered and returned to its owner.

Crime reduction in central London

The arrest forms part of a wider Metropolitan Police strategy targeting theft and robbery in high-value areas. In the first six months of 2026, watch thefts across Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, and Hammersmith & Fulham fell from 213 to 97 offences, a reduction of more than 50%. The figures were released by the Metropolitan Police on 29 July.

Neighbourhood crime, which includes theft and robbery, has decreased by 14% over the past year. The Metropolitan Police stated this equates to 35,000 fewer offences reported across London. Personal robbery specifically has fallen by 11%, representing nearly 3,000 fewer incidents than the previous year.

What happens next for residents

The Metropolitan Police continues to deploy intelligence-led patrols in areas with high theft rates. Residents in Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, and Hammersmith & Fulham can attend local ward panel meetings to discuss policing priorities. Suspicious activity should be reported to the police via 101 or, in an emergency, 999.

Keddad, of Seven Sisters Road, Islington, will serve his sentence in a London prison. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed no further charges are pending in this case. The watch, which was not damaged during the incident, remains with its owner.