Two men jailed for series of Rolex robberies
Two men have been jailed following a string of robberies involving Rolex watches in central London. The Metropolitan Police said Darren Buchanan, 27, of Lilburne Walk, Brent, was sentenced to nine years in prison, while Cameo Joseph, 26, of Cranhurst Road, Brent, was handed eight years.
Detective Constable Tony Holley, who led the investigation with Detective Constable Paul Gaffney, called the pair "very dangerous men" who clearly "thought nothing of terrifying and threatening the victims with knives".
He said: "The fact that they planned the crimes and identified their targets before following them, on occasion a considerable distance, to outside their homes only makes their behaviour more chilling."
The Met said in the early hours of December 27 2018, a 43-year-old was approached by four men - including Buchanan - outside a hotel in Berners Street, off Oxford Street.
They brandished what is believed to have been a knife and attacked him, before stealing his £50,000 Rolex watch and making off, according to the force.
In another incident, on March 9 2019, an 18-year-old man wearing a £6,000 Rolex was out in Mayfair with friends at around 2.40am.
The victim was followed by Buchanan and accomplices as he made his way back to his home address in Croydon in a taxi, and they accosted him and stole his watch once he left the vehicle.
The victim told officers that the suspects were armed with knives.
In a third incident at around 2.25am on April 26 2019, a 19-year-old was beaten to the ground and robbed on Regent Street by a group of men, including Buchanan.
Police said the victim told them four or five men had punched and kicked him before taking his £7,000 Rolex.
On August 5 2019, at around 1.45am, a 19-year-old man was followed by Buchanan and Joseph in Cricklewood.
After the victim left the car, the pair approached him and brandished a knife and a machete in order to make him hand over his £70 watch, similar in appearance to a Rolex Hulk Submariner.
Joseph then ripped a £1,200 gold chain from his neck before they ran to a car and drove away, police said.
On August 8 2019, a 44-year-old man, who was wearing a £12,000 Rolex watch, had been on a night out in Berkeley Street, Mayfair.
He was followed by Buchanan and Joseph after getting a taxi to St John's Wood, and the pair set upon him after he got out of the vehicle, pulling him to the ground.
Officers said he tried to escape but was overpowered and threatened with knives produced by the two men, who took the watch and made off.
Buchanan and Joseph were arrested for conspiracy to rob on September 4 2019 after they were seen slowly driving around the West End.
Officers said they found balaclavas, a knife, the tracksuit that Buchanan wore for the August robberies and a Rolex from another robbery in August in their vehicle.
A search of their addresses revealed further clothing linked to the robberies, while £5,000 in Class A drugs was found at an address in Isleworth used by Buchanan, police added.
Both were charged on September 5 2019 in relation to the robberies.
Buchanan was also charged with possession with intent to supply class A drugs.
Buchanan pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit robbery at Southwark Crown Court.
Police said he pleaded guilty to the drugs offences at an earlier hearing, while Joseph was found guilty of the conspiracy by a jury on March 9.
Buchanan had also admitted an incident in Hatton Garden on April 6 2019 where he had been arrested with Joseph in possession of a knife.
Published: by Radio NewsHub