Moment ‘Rolex ripper’ asks for a light… then takes off with £18,000 watch

This is the moment a ‘Rolex ripper’ snatched an £18,000 watch belonging to the company boss from outside a French restaurant in Mayfair.

Ali Sharif, 33, and his accomplice Mohamed Benioua, 30, targeted wealthy Dimitrios Triadis outside Mister Nice in Mayfair in October 2023.

Şerif, a father of one who lives in the Holiday Inn Express in Oxford, was arrested and released on bail.

But four days later his victim, Kentaro Ikegami, picked up an iPhone while waiting for a night bus outside Selfridges on Oxford Street.

Mr. Ikegami ran after the Sheriff, who tried to hit him with an umbrella but eventually gave him back the phone.

Şerif was released on bail again, but an arrest warrant was issued for him after he did not attend the hearing. He was eventually arrested again in June 2025.

Prosecutor Carol Summers said: ‘The defendant and Mr Benioua were about to commit crimes during the busy night-time economy.

‘They crossed the street and approached a group of well-dressed people at first, apparently asking for a light. They are completely ignored by this group.’

The pair targeted wealthy Dimitrios Triadis outside Mister Nice in Mayfair in October 2023.

They then approached Mr. Triadis.

‘Mr Benioua stopped Mr Triadis and asked for a light. Mr Triadis obliged and Mr Benioua put his hand on Mr Triadis’ wrist and pulled out his watch… The watch costs £18,000.

‘This defendant assisted Mr Benioua by walking past the couple, distracting his female companion and attempting to trip Mr Triadis so that Mr Benioua could escape the seizure.

‘The watch was found on Mr Benioua’s ankle when he was arrested.’

‘Fortunately, Mr. Triadis was not able to get his watch back thanks to this defendant.’

Referring to the second robbery on October 30, Ms Summers said: ‘Mr Ikegami was in Selfridges with a female partner waiting for the bus to go home at 9.30pm.’

When Mr. Ikegami saw that the Sheriff had his phone with him, he tried to stop him and suffered scratches on his neck as he struggled with the Sheriff on the ground.’

‘We say that while they were on the ground, Mr. Ikegami threw his female friend’s coffee on the two of them. The defendant managed to stand still with Mr. Ikegami’s phone in his hand.

‘Mr Ikegami chased him but the defendant took an umbrella, broke it in half and began to wave it at Mr Ikegami.

‘Mr Ikegami used his umbrella to fend off the defendant and chased the defendant until the defendant gave up and returned the phone to Mr Ikegami.’

Jailing him for three years, Judge Martin Griffith said: ‘You arrived from Palestine nearly twenty years ago, but your immigration status appears to have meant that you were unable to find employment outside the black market.

‘In your time of need, I’m afraid you turned to theft to give you the money you need to live.

‘I have witnessed phone and watch theft many times in this capital.

‘Even officials in the US are talking about what’s happening on the streets and saying it’s an unsafe city.

‘I don’t think he regrets it. It looks like there was some planning on your part. ‘You queued for the bus not to get on the bus, but because you saw someone who had something you wanted to buy.’

The court heard Sharif had a partner and a child who lived in Manchester.

Oxford Sheriff confessed to the robbery. He was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

Benioua, of Gravesend, Kent, previously admitted the robbery and was sentenced to two years in prison.