Oliver White: Jewellery shop assistant found dead after being robbed ‘shouldn’t have been left alone’, say store owners
A shop assistant found dead after being robbed at a west London jewellers “should never have been alone”, the store owners have said.
Oliver White, 27, who worked at 247 Kettles in Kew Road, Richmond, was found dead at his home in Surrey on 26 May, the day after two unarmed men stole a number of high-value watches from the jewellers.
CCTV footage posted online appears to show a shop worker being put in a chokehold during the raid.
Mr White’s family said in a statement shared by Surrey Police on Sunday that the watch dealer was left “traumatised and unable to speak” after the robbery.
They said they believe he “subsequently took his own life due to the anguish and distress of this terrible incident”.
Independent jewellers, 247 Kettles, described Mr White as a “close friend” of more than 20 years who “left a long-lasting impact on the watch community as a whole”.
In a statement, it added: “Both suppliers and customers alike were taken back by Oliver’s vibrant spirit and kind heart and his loss is felt deeply by all that knew him.”
The company said Mr White should “never have been alone in the office on Saturday and that amount of watches should’ve never been on display”.
It said despite having strict security procedures, “such procedures were not followed through no fault of anyone’s. Panic buttons, alarms, smoke screens and security doors are in place”.
The business claimed the suspects had targeted the shop by posing as potential customers across a three-day period, and were “waiting for a vulnerability and the correct time to strike”.
CCTV images of the two suspects have been released. Pic: Metropolitan Police
Pic: Metropolitan Police
It claimed “false statements” circulating in the media and on social media about insurance, the value of stock and security in place were all simply untrue.
“Unfortunately on Saturday the attempt succeeded in a violent robbery which Oliver was the victim of,” the company said.
“We would appreciate if false rumours could be stopped to allow both friends and family to grieve without additional stress and intrusion.”
The jewellers said it will remain temporarily closed to “grieve the loss of our friend”.
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Over the weekend, the Metropolitan Police released images of two suspects.
One of the men in the CCTV video, who has multiple tattoos and is wearing a black and white T-shirt with sunglasses on his head, is seen grabbing the dealer and holding him around his neck for more than a minute.
His accomplice, wearing a grey hoodie and ripped blue jeans, grabs items from cabinets and stuffs them into a bag on the other man’s back.
No arrests have yet been made.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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