Rolex LV Stolen In Paris

[kultschar]

How clued up on watches are these thieves?

I know wearing a Rolex in a city setting is painting a target on your back, but what about an A Lange?

Ha - might get away with a Lange since not a Instagram hit lol

[Mike Wood]

Apparently the CCTV footage showing the targeting and subsequent robbery of me for my AP Royal Oak in London in December 2019 by an Algerian gang was in a crime documentary programme on TV in Holland today.

Up to the point of my watch mugging, I regarded myself as being streetwise...but the reality is that these guys are well practiced and have the element of surprise: in the 10-12 seconds they take robbing you, you just can't compute what is going on, and when you do realise...they're gone.

But, I am here to tell the tale. In another country, that may have been very different.

MW

[webvan]

How did they spot you ? In December and with several layers a watch shouldn't be easy normally.

[Boss13]

Wow, nice thread look forward to a nice reunion.

[M1011]

How did they spot you ? In December and with several layers a watch shouldn't be easy normally.

Perhaps he committed the cardinal sin of checking the time

[Pupp]

Glad to see this seems to be moving toward a more positive outcome; horrible experience.



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[Mike Wood]

How did they spot you ? In December and with several layers a watch shouldn't be easy normally.

I was tailed from a restaurant behind Oxford Street where I'd eaten dinner with three mates. The gang followed me up and down Bond St, through Selfridges for over 20 minutes, and then attacked in Portland Square. I've got lots if the CCTV footage, and I had no inkling I was being stalked...

[stevecross]

It seems to be all too easy for thieves to be able to open the bracelet on watches. I wonder what the most secure type of strap would be. One that is more likely to be felt by the wearer as it is being removed. Perhaps a standard buckle on leather or rubber? Something that requires more effort than just clicking and opening.

If someone can remove a watch from ones wrist without the wearer even noticing then I do not see a different strap stopping them.

[Montello]

I was tailed from a restaurant behind Oxford Street where I'd eaten dinner with three mates. The gang followed me up and down Bond St, through Selfridges for over 20 minutes, and then attacked in Portland Square. I've got lots if the CCTV footage, and I had no inkling I was being stalked...

Did someone in the restaurant see your watch and tip them off?

[number2]

Did someone in the restaurant see your watch and tip them off?

[Montello]

I thought it a fair question...?

[Rodder]

I thought it a fair question...?

I’d say so, there’s a difference between someone spotting the watch in the restaurant and an employee actively assisting with the crime.

These types of stories aren’t nice. I feel safer in the Suburbs (Bristol), but I wouldn’t be too surprised to hear that homes are targeted next

[prexelor]

If someone can remove a watch from ones wrist without the wearer even noticing then I do not see a different strap stopping them.

I went to an AD event which had a magician. I now cannot remember the routine but he had placed a 10p coin under my watch caseback. Absolutely amazing. No doubt he could have taken my watch if he managed to hide a coin without me knowing.

[Buster73]

I went to an AD event which had a magician. I now cannot remember the routine but he had placed a 10p coin under my watch caseback. Absolutely amazing. No doubt he could have taken my watch if he managed to hide a coin without me knowing.

At my son’s wedding we had a magician who got someone’s engagement ring onto a key ring without anyone noticing, he also got four watches off people on the same table there again no one noticed.

Great entertainment that people still talk about a few years later.

[bitt3n]

At my son’s wedding we had a magician who got someone’s engagement ring onto a key ring without anyone noticing, he also got four watches off people on the same table there again no one noticed.

Great entertainment that people still talk about a few years later.

That's a pretty good racket. I wonder how much he pawned them for.

[M1011]

I went to an AD event which had a magician. I now cannot remember the routine but he had placed a 10p coin under my watch caseback. Absolutely amazing. No doubt he could have taken my watch if he managed to hide a coin without me knowing.

Sounds like a dangerous game at an AD event to start sliding metal coins against people's expensive watches!

[Mike Wood]

Did someone in the restaurant see your watch and tip them off?

I think members of the gang were inside the restaurant (a busy Indian street food place). I went downstairs to the loo, and there were three guys, who I presumed were off duty staff, loitering in the hallway. I reckon one or more were my assailants...

[number2]

I thought it a fair question...?

It was meant "in jest", though a probability.

[prexelor]

Sounds like a dangerous game at an AD event to start sliding metal coins against people's expensive watches!

The magician said he was extra careful as he realised it was expensive. I was more surprised that the coin was there, rather than any scratches.

[RAJEN]

Sounds like a dangerous game at an AD event to start sliding metal coins against people's expensive watches!

It is called using watches as they were intended to be used:-)

[Montello]

I think members of the gang were inside the restaurant (a busy Indian street food place). I went downstairs to the loo, and there were three guys, who I presumed were off duty staff, loitering in the hallway. I reckon one or more were my assailants...

I see. Nasty business all round. At least you are still here to tell the tale.

[M1011]

It is called using watches as they were intended to be used:-)

Uhm, I think the example given was pretty far from the intended use of a watch!

Plus regardless of what you or I might choose to do with our own watches, I wouldn't dream of putting a mark on someone else's! But alas it sounds like no harm was done, but nevertheless a risky trick IMO!

[RAJEN]

Uhm, I think the example given was pretty far from the intended use of a watch!

Plus regardless of what you or I might choose to do with our own watches, I wouldn't dream of putting a mark on someone else's! But alas it sounds like no harm was done, but nevertheless a risky trick IMO!

That was sarcasm:-)

[Smileyguy70]

You're a tourist (work or pleasure is irrelevant) the French police will do as little as possible for you if anything at all. In fact many tourist destinations the police just keep the peace, dislike UK visitors especially (tarred with the "lads on tour" brush) and want the situation and you to simply go away.

So sad but true. If you know a different language other than english, speak that and the french will dislike you less.

Hope you get it back bud

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[Loupe]

After a mini trip half way round the world, it’s back.
This watch could tell some stories…
BIG Thanks to Haywood for its safe return.

[gerard]

After a mini trip half way round the world, it’s back.
This watch could tell some stories…
BIG Thanks to Haywood for its safe return.

Sounds as if there is more of a story to tell.....
Anyway pleased you have it back.

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[M1011]

After a mini trip half way round the world, it’s back.
This watch could tell some stories…
BIG Thanks to Haywood for its safe return.

Congratulations! Would never have guessed this thread would finish with a happy ending!

[Boss13]

Wow, congrats indeed!

[MalaMD]

Congrats, tell us more!

[Justin Case]

Was it a friends or was it yours?

[Montello]

Result. Great news.

[TaketheCannoli]

See post #1.

Was it a friends or was it yours?

[Justin Case]

See post #1.

Hence the question. Many replies as if it was the OP’s watch.

No matter, glad it is now with it’s rightful owner.

[Loupe]

A result for sure!

It’s not with the rightful owner yet as he’s in Australia.
Plenty LVs owned by me to keep this one company till he comes back.

[paneristi372]

Amazing result. I keep hoping one day my old 16618 turns up and is returned.

There is always a chance.

[g40steve]

Amazing result.
Interested to hear how they recovered it?

[prexelor]

Great result!

[Haywood_Milton]

It is a great result, but it also demonstrates yet again that chances of recovery are improved exponentially as the unique case number of a lost watch is shared in the right places. My part in this wasn't huge but the recovery makes any effort very worthwhile. One might hope that the chain of recent custodians will see someone closer to the crime get a jolly good roasting.

It is interesting that a watch stolen in Paris turned up over here in England. Not the first stolen watch to do so and it would be interesting to see if the police follow the trail, though they would need to be pushed.

There is at least one UK dealer under suspicion of selling watches that were stolen on the continent.....

[Euan Begbie]

I think some us are guilty of forgetting the value of some of these watches.

Closest I came to a bad situation was sitting (drunk) in the west end of Ibiza, when a local guy came over to me and pointed out a group of 3 or 4 guys(not locals if you catch my drift) and how they had been staring at my watch for a while. Makes you think what could have happened.


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[gaurav_tzuk]

Wow that is a great result!