Teen's Machete Attacks: London's Crime Wave

On March 26, a 19-year-old from Feltham has pleaded guilty to attempting to rob a man of his Rolex watch using a machete in West London.

The attack happened in Bayeswater back in August 2023, and Zachariah Balaris now faces a substantial prison term after admitting to the crime and possessing the blade.

This comes just weeks after he robbed TV presenter Ali Jones of a 17,000-pound Rolex on Shizek High Road, threatening to cut off the singer's head with a machete.

Balaris was 16 at the time. He also tried this match of phone from Bridgerton Actress, Genevieve Shenerer, at a Kensington Cafe in February last year.

She confronted him, and her ex-partner wrestled him down, but the ordeal left her shaken enough to think about leaving London.

In July 2025, a judge sentenced Balaris to 22 months for that phone attempt and related offenses, calling out his pattern of, targeting wealthy spots for easy grabs and his readiness to get violent.

The judge noted victims feeling unsafe in the city. With 12 prior convictions for 28 offenses like violence and theft, Balaris remains in custody awaiting sentencing next month as courts.

Aim to curb these brazen street crimes.