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Luxury Watch Theft Highlights Rising Crime in London

11/25/2025

Summary

Story summary

Vinod Sekhar, a 57-year-old Malaysian businessman, was violently robbed of his luxury watch in Battersea, London, by two men on Lime bikes.
Djamel Benadda, 34, pleaded guilty to the robbery and claimed the watch, valued at up to £400,000, was counterfeit.
The incident underscores a troubling trend of watch thefts in London, despite a decrease in reported cases.
Police praised Sekhar's escape without serious injury and warned him about the risks faced by high-profile individuals.

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Story summary

Vinod Sekhar, a 57-year-old Malaysian businessman, was violently robbed of his luxury watch in Battersea, London, by two men on Lime bikes.
Djamel Benadda, 34, pleaded guilty to the robbery and claimed the watch, valued at up to £400,000, was counterfeit.
The incident underscores a troubling trend of watch thefts in London, despite a decrease in reported cases.
Police praised Sekhar's escape without serious injury and warned him about the risks faced by high-profile individuals.