Libyan refugee faces jail after tricking Harrods staff to steal watch

Libyan refugee, 26, faces jail after tricking Harrods staff to steal two luxury Royal Oak watches worth a total of £190,000

• Nizar Kejman went into the Harrods store with the intention of stealing jewellery
• The 26-year-old made off with two Audemars Piguet Royal Oak timepieces
• Both Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches retail at an eye-watering £94,000 
• A Libyan national, Mr Kejman was granted refugee status in November 2019
• ‘You deserve greater punishment than I have the power to impose’ said a district judge hearing the case

A Libyan refugee used covert tactics to distract Harrods staff and make off with two £94,000 watches, a court heard.

Nizar Kejman, 26, went into the Knightsbridge store on March 14 and asked to look at two Audemars Piguet Royal Oak timepieces.

He then tricked the sales assistant by asking for a mirror to compare the watch he was wearing with another on display.

When the shop worker went to fetch one Kejman sprinted out of the store with both items, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.

Nizar Kejman, 26, carried out his plan in the luxury Harrods store, where he tricked sales assistants before making off with two premium watches worth £190,000

Anna Renou, defending, said: ‘Mr Kejman is a Libyan national granted refugee status in November 2019.

‘There are pressures placed on the prison system in this time.

‘He recently lost his job which is why he committed these offences. His motivation was financial. Plainly he was always going to be caught. The items were recovered.

‘He has been under 24-hour lockdown in Wandsworth. It will reach capacity at some point.’

District Judge Samuel Goozee told Kejman he will now be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court: ‘You deserve greater punishment than I have the power to impose.

‘He’s gone into Harrods and he’s targeted two high value watches,’ the judge said.

‘He put one on his wrist and was looking at a second watch when he asked a sales assistant for a mirror, distracting the sales assistant.

Kejman went into the Knightsbridge store on March 14 and asked to compare the timepieces before asking service staff to locate a mirror and taking the opportunity to scarper

‘He then immediately ran from the store. That involves a degree of planning.

‘He has a history of dishonest offending. It’s so far beyond the harm guideline.’

The judge told Kejman: ‘You deliberately targeted Harrods and watches and used distraction techniques before fleeing from the store with them.’

Kejman, of Glyn Avenue, Doncaster, admitted theft and was remanded in custody ahead of sentence on a date to be fixed at Isleworth Crown Court.

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