Terrified customers dived for cover as knife-wielding moped bandits pulled up at a pub’s front garden and ripped a £25,000 Rolex from a drinker’s wrist.
The victim, whose father had bought him the watch as a gift, was with friends at The Vineyard in Upper Street, Islington, when the pair burst through the front gates.
He was threatened with an eight-inch knife by the pillion passenger in a hi-vis jacket, who demanded he hand over the 18-carat gold watch.
One customer said: “The man in the hi-vis jacket with the knife ripped the watch off a man… Drinkers in the pub feared a terrorist knife attack and ran to hide and blockaded the toilets.”
Police are hunting the raiders who sped away after the attack at 9.15pm on Monday. But the victim said: “I don’t think the police will catch them.”
His father, retired barrister Greville Davis, 70, said: “They clearly spotted the gold watch on their way past and came back round.”
He said his son was “very angry and scared”, adding: “These robberies are getting more prevalent and dangerous with these thieves gaining confidence every time they get away.”
The father had insured the watch for £25,000 just last month after reports of moped crimes. The pub’s managers declined to comment.
