An Algerian robber who stole a Vietnamese tourist’s £65,000 watch in London was caught after he dropped his earphones at the scene.
Allai Ismail, 30, grabbed the Patek Philippe watch from Viet Nguyen in Notting Hill, west London, on August 7, 2024.
He was caught after police took DNA from his AirPods, which he dropped at the scene, and Mr Nguyen’s wrist.
Ismail, of Cricklewood, north London, admitted robbery and was jailed for three years at Southwark Crown Court.
Mr Nguyen and his wife were near Holland Park while visiting Notting Hill in 2024, when Ismail grabbed the watch from his wrist and ran towards Ladbroke Square.
The tourist chased the thief and grabbed him, before Ismail threw the watch to the ground ahead of him and his accomplice picked it up and ran off.
During that struggle Ismail dropped his glasses, necklace and earphones.
Ismail broke free and Mr Nguyen continued to chase the pair before falling and suffering grazes on his shoulder, right wrist, cheeks, upper lip and left knee.
Allai Ismail was jailed for three years after admitting to stealing a Vietnamese tourist’s £65,000 watch in London
He lost sight of the duo and they escaped, but Ismail was tracked using DNA from Mr Nguyen’s wrist and the dropped earphones, though the stolen watch has not been found.
Carol Summers, prosecuting, said: ‘On 7 August 2024 Mr Nguyen and his wife were visiting the UK and at 5pm, they were walking in Holland Park.
‘As they turned into Ladbroke Walk, we say that the defendant is the one who grabbed the watch on Mr Nguyen’s left wrist even though two males were involved, we say that the defendant took the leading role out of the two of them.
‘Mr Nguyen put up a fight, wrestling with the defendant to get his watch back. He threw the watch ahead of him where the second male picked up the watch and ran towards Ladbroke Square.
‘It was said that the watch was purchased by the victim for £65,000. It has not been recovered.
‘He tried to chase after Mr Ismail, but he tripped and fell as a result. He lost sight of him.’
Sentencing Ismail, Judge Christopher Hehir said: ‘You and another who has never been brought to justice obviously saw in the street Mr Nguyen wearing a nice wrist watch.
‘To his credit Mr Nguyen put up a fight and he grabbed you, causing you to throw the watch to the ground a little way ahead of you. Your accomplice was able to pick it up and run off with it. You quickly followed.
‘Very bravely Mr Nguyen chased you, but he fell over and as a result he suffered grazing to his face and body and the two of you were able to get away.
‘Happily in the initial struggle you dropped your glasses, necklace and AirPods. DNA samples from the AirPods and from Mr Nguyen’s wrist identified you as one of the robbers.
‘I am quite sure from all the material before me that this would have been a distressing ordeal for him.’
The Algerian has previous convictions for shoplifting and phone theft.
