The morning case file
London Crime Briefing
Significant incidents, hearings, outcomes and public-data changes across the capital.
Subject
Abdel El Habchi
London Crime News has published 7 stories involving Abdel El Habchi, from August 2026 to October 2026. Each one is scored for how well the original reporting stood up, and lists the reports it was written from.
- Violent Crime · Westminster
Gangs steal £1m of watches in West End monthly
Organised gangs are stealing an average of £1 million worth of luxury watches every month in London's West End. Metropolitan Police figures show 167 robberies or attempted robberies occurred in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and Hammersmith and Fulham between January and September 2026.
Westminster3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 65 · Hype 45 - Violent Crime · Westminster
Three jailed for £137,000 watch robbery in Mayfair
Three men have been convicted of robbing a Romanian businessman of a £137,000 watch in Mayfair. The incident is part of a wider problem of wrist-watch theft in London's West End, where an average of £1m worth of watches are stolen each month.
Westminster4 min readTrust 70 · Craft 77 · Hype 45 
Violent Crime · WestminsterTwo jailed for Mayfair robbery of £137,000 watch from designer
Two men have been convicted of robbing fashion designer Catalin Botezatu of a £137,000 Richard Mille watch in Mayfair on 28 January 2026. The victim, who feared for his life, was restrained and injured during the attack outside Amazonico restaurant near Berkeley Square.
Westminster4 min readTrust 55 · Craft 65 · Hype 30
Courts · WestminsterMayfair watch robbery trial: Defendant says he was threatened with fire
A 22-year-old man accused of robbing a £137,000 Richard Mille watch in Mayfair said he was threatened with being set on fire if he refused. The trial at Southwark Crown Court heard Ali Eldahouzze and Abdel El Habchi deny robbery charges after Catalin Botezatu was targeted in January.
Westminster4 min readTrust 48 · Craft 85 · Hype 35
Courts · WestminsterAli Eldahouzze denies Mayfair watch robbery after death threats
A 22-year-old man has told a court he was threatened with being set on fire if he did not help steal a £137,000 watch in Berkeley Square. Ali Eldahouzze denies robbery but admits meeting the victim’s assailant minutes before the attack on 28 January 2026.
Westminster5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 35
Courts · City of LondonInfluencer denies role in £137k Mayfair watch robbery
An influencer accused of being involved in the robbery of a £137,000 watch in Mayfair has told a court he had no idea an attack was happening. One co-accused has pleaded guilty.
City of London3 min readTrust 42 · Craft 67 · Hype 41- Courts · City of London
Watch worth £137,000 cut from designer's wrist in Mayfair
A fashion designer had a diamond-encrusted watch worth over £137,000 cut from his wrist outside a Mayfair restaurant. Two men are on trial accused of the robbery, with prosecutors alleging a knife was used.
City of London2 min readTrust 50 · Craft 65 · Hype 45