In a brazen daylight theft on one of London’s most prestigious streets, the regional president of Tim Hortons found himself the target of a cunning watch-snatching scheme. On June 30 of last year, Axel Schwan was strolling down New Bond Street in Mayfair with his wife when a thief, part of a trio that included 26-year-old Ahmed Djidi, made off with his £65,000 Patek Philippe timepiece.
Captured by CCTV, the dramatic moment unfolded as Schwan, demonstrating remarkable resolve, pursued the thief who had ripped the luxury watch from his wrist. This incident, uncovered by the Daily Mail, highlights the audacity of the criminals who preyed on unsuspecting individuals with high-value accessories.
The group had meticulously scouted their victim, with Djidi acting as the lookout while another accomplice executed the theft. The snatching of the watch was described in Southwark Crown Court as a violent act, causing significant distress to Schwan and his wife. The forceful nature of the theft left a substantial impact on the couple, a sentiment echoed during the court proceedings.
Djidi, already under scrutiny for his illegal status, faced additional legal troubles. He was charged with possession of cannabis, a class B drug, on December 30, 2024. Djidi admitted to the charge and was subsequently fined £100, further complicating his legal standing.
The theft had a ‘considerable’ impact on the multinational coffee house chief and his wife, with the timepiece being yanked from Schwan’s wrist with ‘some degree of force,’ Southwark Crown Court was previously told.
He was also previously charged with possessing a controlled class B drug, cannabis on December 30, 2024, for which he pleaded guilty and was fined £100.
On October 8, Djidi appeared at Southwark Crown Court where he was sentenced to 22 months behind bars for robbing Mr Schwan while being aided by an Arabic interpreter.
The 26-year-old was scheduled to be released the same day, having already served the time in custody. However, he may be held in immigration detention, with the possibility of being sent back to his home country
Tim Hortons boss Axel Schwan had his £65,000 Patek Philippe snatched with ‘some degree of force’ from his wrist
The theft had a ‘considerable’ impact on the multinational coffee house chief as well as his wife who was present when the robbery happened
Ahmed Djidi pleaded guilty to one count of theft after being part of the trio who robbed Tim Hortons boss Axel Schwan of a £65,000 Patek Philippe
Sentencing, Judge Christopher Hehir said to Djidi: ‘You had two accomplices. The three of you waited on a busy street looking to identify any passer-by with a valuable wrist watch that you could steal.
‘You stole a Patek Philippe watch from Mr Schwan who was walking on a Sunday afternoon with his wife. Some degree of force was used to grab the watch from his wrist.
‘The effect on him and his wife has been considerable. This is a serious offence, and only an immediate prison sentence is appropriate in your case.
‘I am told that you are in the country illegally. You have already been in trouble for stealing people’s property in the past. In 2022 you received a community order having been involved in a distraction theft of luggage at a London railway station.
‘This was a planned theft. You played your part as a lookout with two others. You are not the one who pulled the watch from Mr Schwan’s wrist, but you are equally guilty for what happened.
While deportation was not a matter for his court, the judge said he couldn’t see how Djidi ‘remaining in the UK would be conducive to the public good’.
‘But as I stress, that is not a matter for me,’ he added.
Ahmed Djidi, 26, was part of a gang that stole a Patek Philippe from Axel Schwan’s (pictured) wrist on New Bond Street, Mayfair, on 30 June last year
Djidi will also be subject to a criminal behaviour order of seven years, preventing him from entering the London Borough of Westminster and interacting with his two accomplices. The 26-year-old, from Acton, admitted one count of theft.
Detective Sergeant Daniel Northcott, of Central West Command Unit, who led the probe, said: ‘This investigation has removed a notorious offender from London’s streets.
‘He snatched watches from the wrists of people walking through the city – making onlookers feel unsafe and leaving a significant, lasting effect on this victim.
‘The Met is focused on reducing the number of robberies taking place on the streets of London by targeting robbery hotspots with increased patrols.
‘This prevents and deters robberies from taking place, as we work to identify, apprehend and deter potential offenders, and we’re seeing success with personal robbery down 12.8 per cent compared to the same period last year.’
