{"id":12588,"date":"2026-02-19T07:19:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T07:19:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/12588\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T07:19:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T07:19:13","slug":"how-police-caught-gang-who-beat-robbed-and-dragged-boy-13-for-fake-rolex-news-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/12588\/","title":{"rendered":"How police caught gang who \u2018beat, robbed and dragged\u2019 boy, 13, for fake Rolex | News UK"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_285694104-a987.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-26975159\" alt=\"London, UK, 2026-02-18: British Transport Police OSU (Operational Support Unit) arrest a young man at his home address who is suspected of taking part in a robbery at Swiss Cottage Tube Station in North London. ??Justin Griffiths-Williams 0044208533988200447850053473\" decoding=\"sync\"\/><br \/>\n\t\tAn 18-year-old boy was arrested in Camden yesterday (Picture: Justin Griffiths-Williams)<\/p>\n<p>Making his way home from <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/school\/\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">school<\/a> in London, a 13-year-old boy was dragged down a flight of stairs, beaten and robbed. <\/p>\n<p>A crowd of teenagers surrounded and attacked him during rush hour at Swiss Cottage train station last month, demanding he hand over his <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/smartphones\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">phone<\/a> and his watch. <\/p>\n<p>The thieves flashed a zombie knife at him, before leaving him terrified and injured on the floor without any of his valuables. <\/p>\n<p>And he is just one of hundreds of victims robbed on the <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/london\/\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">London<\/a>\u2019s transport network. <\/p>\n<p>But British Transport Police have had enough.<\/p>\n<p>Police Sergeant Brendan Lamb told Metro: \u2018Although being robbed at knife-point almost sounds low-level nowadays, it is incredibly impactful and can change the lives of victims. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018After crimes like this, victims understandably can become very nervous about what used to be their ordinary life. We want them to be able to feel comfortable again.\u2019 <\/p>\n<p>And Metro joined them on their hunt to catch the criminals responsible for ruining so many journeys home. <\/p>\n<p>\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_285692365-e656.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-26974901\" alt=\"London, UK, 2026-02-18: British Transport Police OSU (Operational Support Unit) knock on the door of a premises in North London where a robbery suspect is thought to reside.??Justin Griffiths-Williams 0044208533988200447850053473\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n\t\tPolice at one of the addresses today (Picture: Justin Griffiths-Williams)<br \/>\nThe attack <\/p>\n<p>On January 17 at 5pm, the 13-year-old victim was at Swiss Cottage Underground Station where he was attacked. <\/p>\n<p>A group of boys were \u2018lying in wait\u2019 before they approached him, dragged him down stairs before kicking and punching him. <\/p>\n<p>As it happened during rush hour, there were multiple witnesses, including a woman who tried to intervene.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tLatest London news\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>To get the latest news from the capital, visit Metro&#8217;s<a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/london\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"> London news hub<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>But the group of attackers managed to flee, with the victim\u2019s phone and fake Rolex watch. <\/p>\n<p>He was taken to hospital after suffering facial bruising and swelling to both eyes \u2013 and police were determined to catch those responsible. <\/p>\n<p>Knocking on doors<\/p>\n<p>\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_285691985-0b13.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-26974876\" alt=\"London, UK, 2026-02-18: British Transport Police OSU (Operational Support Unit) knock on the door of a premises in North London where a robbery suspect is thought to reside.??Justin Griffiths-Williams 0044208533988200447850053473\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n\t\tSome of the occupants were unwilling to reveal where the suspect was (Picture: Justin Griffiths-Williams)<\/p>\n<p>There were three targets for the yesterday\u2019s arrests. Two 18-year-old boys, and one 15-year-old. <\/p>\n<p>They were suspected of being part of the gang who surrounded the young victim, with two others, aged 16 and 17, already arrested on the day. <\/p>\n<p>The first address proved to be a completely unoccupied building, with neighbours saying only workmen being seen entering and leaving the premises. <\/p>\n<p>The second property, in a newly built block of flats with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Swiss Cottage, proved frustrating for officers. Three people \u2013 all siblings of one of the suspects -insisted they had no idea where their younger brother was and \u2018had not seen him in weeks\u2019. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018But we will just keep going back here\u2019, BTP Sergeant Danny Douglas said. \u2018We are not just going to give up looking for these people.\u2019 <\/p>\n<p>In the third and final property, an 18-year-old suspect was arrested and brought out. His terminally ill mum shouting out in frustration at the amount of police present. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018Knives during robberies are still rare\u2019<\/p>\n<p>\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_285684459-0ef3.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-26974988\" alt=\"London, UK, 2026-02-18: British Transport Police OSU (Operational Support Unit) attend the premises in North London where a robbery suspect is thought to reside. ??Justin Griffiths-Williams 00442085339882 00447850053473\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n\t\tPolice are determined to catch robbers on the train network (Picture: Justin Griffiths-Williams)<\/p>\n<p>And according to the latest data, the <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/work\/\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">work<\/a> of officers on the UK\u2019s transport network is pushing crime levels in the right direction \u2013 down. <\/p>\n<p>Between October 2024 and September 2025, BTP recorded 361 offences involving a knife or sharp instrument, according to the <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/office-for-national-statistics\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Office for National Statistics<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>Sergeant Lamb said: \u2018Robberies involving a knife are not as common as you think, which is why it is vital we catch these criminals.\u2019 <\/p>\n<p>But this is down by 26% compared to the previous year, as 487 incidents were recorded. <\/p>\n<p>And as knife crime continues to involve youths, the half-term week struck as the perfect opportunity to launch a concentrated number of arrests as the teenagers involved will be at home. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018Lives can be changed by crimes like this,\u2019 Sergeant Lamb added. \u2018Especially when the victim is so young.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>He said: \u2018Just arresting one person, can lead to further lines of enquiry, and have a domino effect where we manage to catch more criminals.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/02\/19\/police-caught-gang-beat-robbed-dragged-boy-13-fake-rolex-26974372\/mailto:webnews@metro.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\">webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">For more stories like this, <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\">check our news page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\">Arrow<br \/>\nMORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/02\/18\/east-london-borough-get-vote-leaving-capital-nigel-farage-becomes-prime-minister-26972749\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">East London borough could get \u2018vote\u2019 on leaving capital if Nigel Farage becomes Prime Minister<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\">Arrow<br \/>\nMORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/02\/18\/harrods-security-guard-stole-11-000-clothes-is-trouble-mum-26972550\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Harrods security guard who stole \u00a311,000 of clothes \u2018is in trouble with his mum\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\">Arrow<br \/>\nMORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/02\/18\/mother-20-left-baby-die-hot-car-got-lip-filler-faces-15-years-jail-26971985\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mother, 20, who left baby to die in hot car while she got lip filler faces 15 years in jail<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" class=\"metro-button share-bar-preferred-source\" data-vars-position=\"bottom\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/metro.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tAdd as preferred source<br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBreaking News<\/p>\n<p>Never miss the biggest stories with breaking news alerts in your inbox.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"An 18-year-old boy was arrested in Camden yesterday (Picture: Justin Griffiths-Williams) Making his way home from school in&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12589,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[9213,996,1202,41,17,3576],"class_list":{"0":"post-12588","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-switzerland","8":"tag-crime-news","9":"tag-london","10":"tag-news","11":"tag-swiss","12":"tag-switzerland","13":"tag-uk"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12588","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12588"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12588\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12589"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12588"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12588"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12588"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}