Ticking towards justice. (Photo credit: Met Police)
Until now, undercover cops were used in the investigation of narcotics crime, radical groups and vice operations. But having them pose with Rolex timepieces in order to catch robbers is a first. While Rolex watches have been tested on the highest of mountains and in the deepest of seas, one place the brand seems to have difficulty surviving is European capitals, like London.
In a press release on Wednesday, Scotland Yard released CCTV footage and explained how plain-clothed officers wearing valuable timepieces volunteered to go out to streets known to be hotspots in London. The footage shows brave officers being grabbed by the throat after being ambushed by up to five robbers in some cases. A covert team of officers then emerges and pounces on the criminals.
The multiple operations, which resulted in 27 men being arrested, are the latest strategy regarding watch robbery: trapping malefactors before real victims could fall prey. The innovative tactic by Scotland Yard in the past two years is said to have led to robberies halving, an encouraging sign.