Owners of the Richmond-based jewellers 247 Kettles have said that a 27-year-old shop assistant, who was found dead in his Shepperton home, “should never have been alone” following a robbery at the store. Oliver White was put in a chokehold on Saturday as two men robbed the shop of its stock. Mr White’s body was found without suspicion the following day. The jewellers believe Mr White “should never have been alone in the office” and that “the amount of watches should never have been on display” when the thieves arrived. The owners also believe that the robbers had waited for an opportune moment to strike.
The company revealed in a social media post that the robbers had spent three days pretending to be clients before they attacked. The robbers waited for an opportunity to strike, exploiting what the jewellers called “a vulnerability and the correct time to strike”. The firm added that it had established “strict security procedures” to prevent such attacks, including panic buttons, alarms, smoke screens, and security doors. However, they were not followed “through no fault of anyone’s”.
The company also paid tribute to Mr White, stating that he “worked around the clock and after hours to ensure customers were satisfied”. In addition, he was described in great detail as having “an incredible work ethic and a passion for pleasing customers” while leaving a “long-lasting impact on the watch community as a whole”.
The police have released images of two suspects from the Saturday evening incident and are calling for any witnesses to come forward. Officers are liaising with the coroner regarding the timing of the theft and Mr White’s death. Meanwhile, the owners of 247 Kettles have confirmed that access has been withdrawn from the internet to the company’s website until it can be updated to reflect the loss of their dear colleague and friend
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