Undercover Cops Crack Down on Rolex Ripper Gangs in Central London

In a remarkable operation spanning nine months, London’s Metropolitan Police successfully brought down notorious Rolex Ripper gangs operating in the heart of the city. This undercover mission resulted in 31 arrests, 27 successful charges, and 21 convictions, sending a strong message to criminals preying on luxury watch owners.

Intelligence and Tactics

Metropolitan Police officers meticulously identified when, where, and how these criminals targeted victims leaving pubs and nightclubs, many of whom were inebriated and vulnerable. These gangs had a keen eye for high-end watches from brands like Rolex, Patek Philippe, Richard Mille, and Audemars Piguet.

Incidents were most prevalent on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays between 11pm and 4am, highlighting the dangerous peak hours for watch thefts.

The Rolex Rippers are using knives and guns to violently take the valuable watches whilst their victims are walking in London, as reported by Metro on 27 Mar 2023.

Effective Deterrence

The results are promising, with a 28% reduction in watch robberies in targeted boroughs during the first operation. Year-on-year comparisons also showed a decline in these crimes.

20 out of the 21 thieves that have been convicted so far.