Two Algerian migrants who lurked around tourist hotspots in London before trying to rob £15,000 watch from wealthy Kuwaiti outside hotel are jailed

Two Algerian immigrants who toured London’s wealthy tourist areas before trying to steal a wealthy Kuwaiti’s £15,000 Hublot watch outside a luxury hotel have been jailed.

Ania Bala, 25, and Salah Mabrouk, 23, tried to steal the watch outside the Lanesborough Hotel in Knightsbridge on October 8 last year.

Bala is thought to have arrived in the UK on a tourist visa and overstayed there, while Mabrouk came here illegally on a small boat before seeking asylum.

The pair were heard chatting in Arabic and discussing potential targets before trying to snatch tourist Mushal Alenezi’s watch.

They denied the charge but were found guilty of attempted robbery by a jury after a week-long trial at Southwark Crown Court.

Sentencing, Judge Christopher Hehir said: ‘You were after a wealthy victim from whom you could steal a very valuable wristwatch.

You were in the Knightsbridge area to carry out what was colloquially referred to as a Rolex heist.

‘You found your victim in Mushal Alenezi, a Kuwaiti gentleman wearing a Hublot wristwatch valued between £12,000 and £15,000.’

Algerian thief Ania Bala, 25, was heard chatting in Arabic discussing potential targets before trying to snatch tourist Mushal Alenezi’s watch.

‘He didn’t manage to escape from you, but he did manage to take off his valuable watch and put it in his trouser pocket.’

Bala and Mabrouk followed Mr Alenezi to the Lanesborough Hotel, where they tried to take his watch from him again.

‘Fortunately, your work was interrupted by plainclothes police officers driving an unmarked car at Hyde Park Corner.’

Referring to Mr Alenezi’s victim impact statement, the judge said: ‘This makes boring reading.

‘His ordeal left him feeling no longer safe. ‘He doesn’t want to leave his house to go out and his mental health is deteriorating.’

‘What made matters worse for Mr Alenezi was that eight months before this crime he had been the victim of a burglary or robbery in which the perpetrator managed to steal his watch.’

Bala and Mabrouk were each sentenced to two and a half years in prison.

Giving evidence, Mohamed Muradi told the court he saw two men looking at people’s wrists.

‘I was driving and saw two men acting suspiciously, looking at people, getting behind people in a very suspicious manner, checking their hands, checking watches, following people.

‘They caught my attention. ‘I quickly realized that they wanted to steal something similar to people’s watches.’

He said he heard the two defendants talking about watches in Arabic.

‘They were speaking Arabic. They were talking about watches. They were saying, “This is valuable, this is not valuable.”

He said they then focused on Mr. Alenezi.

‘They started physically taking his watch, pushing him.’

Bala and Mabrouk followed Mr Alenezi to the Lanesborough Hotel in Knightsbridge (pictured) where they tried to take his watch.

‘An argument broke out between them. The victim was very frightened and frightened. He quickly put the watch in his pocket and said, ‘I know you want to steal my watch, but I will resist you.’

‘Fortunately, he was a big man, big built. Maybe they were a little afraid of fighting him.’

Giving evidence with the help of an Arabic translator, Mr Alenezi said: ‘They got very close to me. I took the watch and put it in my pocket. One grabbed my wrist and the other wrapped it around him.

‘ He grabbed my wrist and held my hand. He was pulling me towards him. The second one was behind me. The second one tried to put his hand in my pocket to take my watch.

‘Suddenly three people arrived and arrested two people. I learned that they were police.

‘I thought they were going to kill me. ‘I was scared.’

He said his watch was worth between £12,000 and £15,000.

The court heard that Bala came to the UK on a tourist visa, while Mabrouk came to the country as an unaccompanied minor and wanted to seek asylum.

An Arabic translator assisted them throughout the hearing.

Bala and Mabrouk denied these allegations but were found guilty of attempted robbery.