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Nicole Farhi is robbed at knifepoint on doorstep of £3m home
Rob Singh, Evening Standard1 May 2008
Fashion designer Nicole Farhi has been robbed at knifepoint on the doorstep of her multi-million-pound home.
The 61-year-old had her £8,000 ring, a watch and foreign cash stolen after she was pounced on by two men who threatened her with a knife.
It is believed the pair lay in wait for the millionairess as she entered her Hampstead home at 11pm last Thursday.
Farhi is the latest victim of a duo who have been operating in the area for three months. They have attacked three women who have been walking late at night on their own, stealing expensive jewellery.
Police are desperate to catch the pair amid fear they may strike again.
The suspects - who are both black - fled in a small silver car which was parked nearby and drove off towards Finchley Road. They were both aged between 25 and 35.
Detective Chief Inspector Steve Burns of Camden Robbery Squad said: "There have been three incidents over the last three months in Hampstead where lone women have been robbed of their jewellery.
"The suspects for these robberies are young, black males. Members of the public should always be aware of their surroundings and should report any suspect activity to police."
Farhi lives with her husband, theatre director David Hare, at the detached, period property in Frognal, just off Hampstead High Street. Homes on the quiet, residential street are believed to be worth from £3 million upwards.
In the last two decades, French-Algerian Farhi has emerged as one of the leading designer names in Britain and created a loyal following across the world.
Her career began in Paris where she worked as a freelance fashion designer, but she moved to London in the Seventies, where she worked with the likes of Stephen Marks, owner of the then-little-known label French Connection.
In 1983 Marks funded the launch of the Nicole Farhi label. Five years later she expanded the collection and now the brand has continued to grow with the introduction of swimwear, shoes, accessories and evening wear.
Tony Blair was a fan of Farhi's casual wear while he was Prime Minister and actors Colin Firth and Emma Thompson and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin have also been spotted wearing her designs.
She now has stores across the world as well as eight stores across London, including New Bond Street and Floral Street.
Nicole Farhi was unavailable for comment last night.
Anyone with information about the robbery should contact members of the Camden Robbery Squad on 020 7404 1212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Reader views (4)
Sadly,this is exactly why,literally "millions" of Londoners born and bred have fled their beloved London Town and "emigrated" to The Suburbs.
This was in "well-heeled" Hampstead,can you imagine showing signs of success in Tottenham/Stonebridge Park/Hackney/Peckham/Wood Green etc?
Want to Win an "easy" wager?...Next time you hear a story like this with your more liberal minded friends and neither of you know the identity of the suspects,then offer them £5 if the suspect(s) is of an Ethnic Minority providing they give you £1 if the perpetrator(s) are indigenous White!..Over the Decades you will become a wealthy man, in theory. In practice?..None of them will back up their views with hard cash because in their heart of hearts they know but want to "deny" the blatantly obvious that has prompted much of the White Flight from our Inner Cities,sadly.
- Tony Giles, Bexley,England, 02/05/2008 08:48
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A digital compact camera connected to a laptop /pc makes a great domestic CCTV system and would have easily captured clear images of the camera scene and the suspects.
- John Riley, London, 01/05/2008 23:33
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'Young black males' really! Such a surprise, what would Boris do?
- Colin, Poole UK, 01/05/2008 18:09
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What on earth does Nicole Farhi's house price have to do with this story?
- Ls, London, UK, 01/05/2008 12:40
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