Watch-Don Moped Thieves Nabbed in London Crime Spree
Nizar Msaad, from Dalrymple Close, N14, was slammed with 40 months in the clink at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday, 3 May. Shaquille Allen, a no-fixed-address crook, got the same sentence on Tuesday, 7 May — plus an extra 54 months for a separate crime.
Moped Bandits Target Luxury Watches in London’s West End
Both men admitted to two counts of robbery and three of attempted robbery from earlier hearings. The daylight horrors unfolded on Saturday, 1 October 2022, in London’s W1 area. Here’s the damage done:
- 20:10 – Audley Street: Attempted watch snatch.
- 21:30 – Mortimer Street: Man robbed of Rolex with no injuries.
- 21:45 – Provost Street: Another Rolex stolen, victim suffered minor hand injury.
Msaad and Allen zoomed through the streets on a stolen moped, targeting pedestrians flashing expensive timepieces.
Violent Attacks Caught on CCTV Help Pin Down Suspects
During the first attempted robbery on Audley Street, the victim was knocked down and threatened with a machete. A pub worker intervened, forcing the pair to flee on their moped. Luckily, the victim escaped without injury and skipped police contact, but four other victims stepped forward.
Operation Venice detectives dived deep into hours of CCTV footage, tracking the duo’s every move. The footage showed the criminals wielding machetes, punching, kicking, and even running over their victims in a brutal two-hour spree.
Crucially, officers captured the thieves removing their crash helmets on camera, leading to their identification. DNA from the recovered moped linked straight back to Msaad and Allen.
Police Praise Teamwork as Violent Duo Locked Up
Detective Constable Mike Bagnall from Operation Venice said:
“These were violent attacks on innocent people in the middle of the street in central London. It was just fortunate that no one was seriously injured during these reckless offences. The investigation was thorough and detailed. We traced Msaad and Allen and built an overwhelming case against them. I’m glad our determination helped take both these men off the streets.”
Msaad faced Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on 16 November 2022, while Allen appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 21 April 2023.
