On May 26, the day after two unarmed men stole many expensive watches from the jewelers, Oliver White, 27, who worked at 247 Kettles on Kew Road, Richmond, was discovered dead at his Surrey home.
A shop employee appeared to have been choked during the raid according to CCTV footage that has been made public online.
Following the theft, the watch dealer was “traumatized and unable to speak,” according to a statement Surrey Police issued on behalf of Mr. White’s family on Sunday.
He “subsequently took his own life due to the anguish and distress of this terrible incident,” they stated, based on their belief.
Mr. White, according to independent jewellers 247 Kettles, was a “close friend” for over 20 years who “left a long-lasting impact on the watch community as a whole”.
In a press release, it stated: “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.”
Mr. White “never should have been alone in the office on Saturday and that amount of watches should’ve never been on display,” according to the firm.
