A Saudi national in his 40s was attacked with a knife in London’s Mayfair district on the night of September 3 when someone tried to steal the watch on his wrist.
The injured man received first aid at the scene. London police said the victim was not in life-threatening condition.
A 58-year-old man was detained at the scene of the attack. A knife believed to have been used in the attack was found on the suspect.
Luxury-goods thefts in London
The incident in Mayfair has brought renewed attention to data on the theft of luxury watches and other valuable goods in London.
Over the past three years, 5,180 luxury watches worth £3,000 or more have been stolen in the city from their owners’ wrists or from stores where they were being sold. Police recovered and returned only 88 of those watches to their owners.
The highest number of thefts was recorded in Westminster, Camden, and Kensington and Chelsea.
More than 15,000 luxury goods were stolen in London over the past two years, with total losses from bags, jewelry, and watches reaching £22 million, approximately 1.4 billion Turkish liras.