Michael McIntyre robbed by hammer-wielding moped muggers during school run

Witnesses say comedian forced to hand over a watch to the robbers

Michael McIntyre was robbed by two hammer-wielding thieves on a moped while he waited to pick his children up from school.

The windows of the floppy-haired comedian’s black Range Rover were smashed and he was forced to hand over a watch to the robbers, witnesses said.

The 42-year-old had been waiting to collect his sons in Golders Green, in north London, when he was attacked.

Witnesses said he tried to comfort his sons in the aftermath.

An onlooker, who did not want to be named, told the Daily Mail: “The guy at the front of the moped started to hit the driver’s window about 10 to 15 times and it eventually just cracked.

“He opens the door and gets Michael McIntyre out of the car. Michael fell but he was still trying to put up a fight.

“I just remember one of the bikers trying to get something. I don’t know what the guy was trying to get – a watch, a wallet, maybe?

“And then within seconds they were gone down the hill. It was all so quick – the whole thing must have taken 30 seconds. Michael’s son was in the car with him in the front passenger seat.”

The Met Police said they were called to North End Road just before 2pm on Monday.

In a statement, the force said: ”The victim was stationary in his car when two males on a moped smashed the car windows with a hammer before stealing property.

“No injuries were reported.”

Mr McIntyre’s agent told the Sun: ”Michael was involved in an incident involving armed robbers.

“He is absolutely fine and helping police with their inquiries.”

No arrests have been made, investigators said.

It comes amid a surge in moped-related crime in London.

Others who have fallen victim to so-called moped gangs include Martin lewis, the founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, whose phone was snatched from his hands last July, while Daniel Radcliffe came to the aid of a tourist who was mugged.

Between January and September, there were more than 19,385 “moped enabled” crimes in the capital – an average of 53 a day – including thefts and robberies, figures from 2017 suggest.

At the time, police said they were tackling the increase in three ways: a UV spray, mobile stinger and more lightweight motorbikes for officers.

Officers said there are a number of factors behind the spike in thefts, including a rise in the number of people using scooters to commute and a growing market for second-hand mobile phone parts.

Scooter criminals normally travel in pairs, with a passenger sitting behind the rider, targeting busy areas where they can snatch high-value smartphones.

Speaking last October, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said: “I think we are stemming the rise but I want sustained reductions.”