Dad bravely steps in to try and save son from armed robbers stealing £100,000 Rolex

That is the second two balaclava-clad armed robbers wrestled a £100,000 Rolex from an American vacationer in London.

The sufferer was strolling along with his father and a good friend in upmarket Chelsea, final yr, once they had been focused by knife and gun-wielding attackers.

The sufferer’s father was threatened with a knife whereas the feminine good friend additionally had her £200 watch stolen.

Nobody was severely injured in the course of the stunning incident, which sparked a painstaking investigation to trace down the attackers.  

Thomas Lenaghan, 23, and 20-year-old Ronnie Fitzgerald each admitted conspiracy to rob, threatening an individual with a bladed article in a public place, possession of a stun gun and threatening an individual with a stun gun.

The pair have now been convicted and are prone to face jail.

John Stovell, 50, has admitted dealing with stolen items and helping an offender.

Footage reveals a frantic altercation at 12.15am on November 16, 2021, when masked males carrying what seems to be a weapon may be seen scrapping with two people attempting to get away at nighttime.  

The gang then escape in a ready getaway car.

The defendants had been traced following a joint probe by the Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad and Westminster Theft Squad.

Thomas Lenaghan (left) and Ronnie Fitzgerald (proper) have been convicted over the theft (Image: SWNS)

Police say they approached their victims whereas crossing Pavilion Street.

The primary sufferer, aged 31, was pushed to the ground and hit from behind by a stun gun.

The suspects surrounded him and demanded he hand over his luxurious watch.

His father tried to cease the assault however was threatened with the knife which lower via his coat however didn't severely injure him,

The good friend additionally had her watch stolen after being threatened with a stun gun earlier than the gang received away.

A number of CCTV cameras and cellphones captured the incident, however the gang couldn't be recognized as a result of that they had their faces lined and wore generic clothes.

They had been utilizing a stolen Jaguar F-PACE with false plates, which meant it was tough to determine and monitor down.

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However Flying Squad detectives analysed the footage and located a small sticker on the underside proper nook of the automotive’s windshield.

They then labored via crime data to learn the way many Jaguar F-PACEs had been reported stolen and remained unrecovered in current months, which left them with between 30 and 40 potential automobiles.

The crew contacted every proprietor and labored out if any of their automobiles had any explicit figuring out options.

One instructed officers their automotive had a parking allow for his or her little one’s college, which matched the sticker seen on the automotive used within the theft.

Following that breakthrough, detectives labored out the place the automotive had been earlier than and after the theft, which led them to footage capturing the robbers assembly with out masks.

Pictures of their faces had been circulated and led to them being recognized.

The automotive was later present in a carpark close to Earl’s Court docket in West London and a forensic examination linked the boys to the car.

Detective Constable Robert Rodak, who labored on the investigation, stated: ‘This was a stunning and violent theft which understandably left the victims shaken and feeling extremely lucky they didn't endure extra severe damage.

‘Everybody ought to have the ability to stroll via our streets unaffected by the sort of crime and that's the reason we're doing the whole lot we are able to to take offenders like Lenaghan, Fitzgerald and Stovell off our streets.

John Stovell admitted dealing with stolen items and helping an offender (Image: SWNS)

‘This conviction was a results of a joint effort the place our native crew was assisted by the specialist abilities of the Flying Squad to catch these accountable.

‘Working collectively we'll proceed to focus on and relentlessly pursue robbers who commit violent crime in London.’

Detective Chief Superintendent Owain Richards, accountable for native policing in Kensington and Chelsea, added: ‘Over the previous couple of months now we have been focusing our assets in scorching spot areas the place we all know watch robberies have elevated.

‘Our devoted theft crew are tirelessly monitoring down these accountable for these sorts of crimes and we hope this case demonstrates that anybody committing these offences might be recognized and delivered to justice.’

The gang are on account of be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court docket on December 9.