London Rolex robbery: Man held after shocking CCTV footage showed violent £15,000 watch theft

Met Police detectives have arrested a man in connection with the violent robbery of a £15,000 gold Rolex at a Greenwich van hire company. Shocking CCTV footage showed two masked men enter the office before wrestling the man to the ground and ripping off his gold Yacht Master watch from his wrist. The attack lasted just 46 seconds.

Following an appeal, detectives have today (Friday, 19 February) arrested a 27-year-old man in Greenhithe, Kent, on suspicion of robbery. He has been taken to a London police station where he remains in custody.

Detectives have also named a second suspect, 32-year-old Kevin Ripley, who remains at large and has connections with the Greenhithe and Swanscombe areas of Kent and should not be approached if seen.

The robbery, on 10 February, was caught on CCTV and showed one of the men strangle the 46-year-old victim from behind as he sits on an office chair, while another grapples with him from the front.

The attacked businessman throws a punch and tries to kick one of the men away before he is manhandled to the ground. From there one of the assailants wrenches the man's arm into a painful position behind his back before unclasping the luxury timepiece and bolting out of the office door.