Moment Tim Hortons boss chases Algerian illegal migrant who snatched £65,000 Patek Philippe watch from his wrist as he walked through Mayfair

This is the moment an illegal Algerian immigrant watch dismantler targeted a Tim Hortons boss and snatched his accomplice’s £65,000 Patek Philippe watch from his wrist on one of London’s most exclusive streets.

The Daily Mail can reveal CCTV of Axel Schwan bravely chasing a thief who brazenly stole the businessman’s luxury piece on New Bond Street in Mayfair on June 30 last year.

While Tim Hortons, the regional president of the multinational coffee chain, was walking down the road with his wife, a member of the watch dismantling trio, including Ahmed Djidi (26), silently approached behind him and snatched the five-figure watch from his wrist.

Although Djidi did not snatch the watch himself, the thief was part of the gang who targeted the coffee patron in search of a ‘valuable bracelet’ they could steal.

The theft had a “significant” impact on the multinational café chef and his wife, with the watch being pulled from Schwan’s wrist “with some force”, Southwark Crown Court previously heard.

He was also charged with possession of the controlled class B drug cannabis on December 30, 2024, pleaded guilty and was fined £100.

On 8 October, Djidi, with the help of an Arabic translator, appeared at Southwark Crown Court where he was sentenced to 22 months behind bars for theft.

Djidi, who completed his time in custody, was scheduled to be released the same day. However, he may be held in immigration detention with the possibility of repatriation.

Tim Hortons boss Axel Schwan snatched £65,000 Patek Philippe from his wrist ‘using some force’

The theft had a ‘significant’ impact on the multinational coffeehouse chef and his wife, who were present at the time of the robbery.

While handing down the sentence, Judge Christopher Hehir told Djidi: ‘You had two accomplices. The three of you were waiting on a busy street to identify any passerby who had a valuable wristwatch you could steal.

‘You stole a Patek Philippe watch from Mr Schwan as he walked with his wife on Sunday afternoon. Some force was used to grab the watch from his wrist.

‘The impact on him and his wife was considerable. This is a serious crime and only immediate imprisonment is appropriate in your case.

‘I was told you were in the country illegally. You’ve gotten into trouble in the past for stealing people’s property. You received a community order for your involvement in a distracted luggage theft at a London railway station in 2022.

‘This was a planned theft’ You played the role of lookout along with two other people. You are not the one who removed the watch from Mr. Schwan’s wrist, but you are equally guilty of what happened.

Although his deportation was not a matter for the court, the judge said he could not see how Djidi’s stay in the UK would ‘contribute to the public interest’.

‘But as I emphasized, this is not an issue that concerns me,’ he added.

Ahmed Djidi, 26, was part of a gang who stole a Patek Philippe from the wrist of Axel Schwan (pictured) on New Bond Street, Mayfair, on June 30 last year.

He will also be subject to a seven-year criminal conduct order preventing him from entering the London Borough of Westminster and interacting with two accomplices.

Djidi, of Acton, admitted one count of theft.

Detective Sergeant Daniel Northcott, of the Central West Command Unit, who led the investigation, said: ‘This investigation took a notorious criminal off the streets of London.

‘He snatched watches from the wrists of people walking in the city; It left onlookers feeling unsafe and left a significant, lasting impact on the victim.

‘The Met is focusing on reducing the number of robberies taking place on London’s streets by targeting robbery hotspots with increased patrols.

‘This prevents and deters robberies from taking place as we seek to identify, apprehend and deter potential criminals and we are seeing success at personal robbery reduced by 12.8 per cent compared to the same period last year.’