Rolex Stolen from wrist in Barcelona

[Clay7484]

Again, they don't have to post the serial numbers. Just keep a record of them internally.

[SLSteve]

The reality is that there are 1.62 million people living in Barcelona. According to the police about 100-150 Rolex get snachted of wrists a year.

Let’s say that 2% of all people have a Rolex, it means that over 32.000 people wear one. Means you have less than a half percent chance they’ll steal yours within a year. Honestly I think many many more wear a Rolex though.

Ofcourse it is more complicated. They rather target tourists as tourists generally will leave pretty soon, minimizing chances of being recognized or being prosecuted. Spotters are everywhere at hotels and tourist traps. This means the chances for locals are also slimmer to be robbed as they might avoid these tourist trap on average more.

Same with London or NYC or Amsterdam. It generally depends who you are and where you are going. The places I go out to normally don’t have a ‘strange’ crowd. Therefor I can pretty safely wear my Rolexes everywhere. But when I travel, I put on a cheap Casio or Moonswatch, as my chances are changing when staying in public places. Because we focus so much in theft and read so many articles, we tend to forget it is just a tiny drop in a tremendously large bucket. The reality is; for every article you read about a watch being stolen, there are thousands and thousands wearing their watches without any problems.

This was my lecture, thank you for reading.

[scurfa]

2 or 3 a week?


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[TripleCrown7]

Glad you're both ok, the watch is replaceable

[DonRickles]

Originally Posted by Clay7484

Again, they don't have to post the serial numbers. Just keep a record of them internally.

Ignorance is bliss....

Your frustration is misdirected, towards a company you have no interest in (no ownership). How a secondary watch company does business had nothing to do with your loss. On the extremely rare occasion if a "hot piece" is discovered, you can rest assure they'd (Chrono) provide all the assistance to return the item. Highly unlikely they ruin their rep over one or even a few timepieces...

My questions above went unanswered.....

Your watch is gone. Buy a new one and be more careful....

[Clay7484]

Don Rickles, how hard is it for you to grasp the concept that this post was in part to help prevent future watch theft. Chrono and sites of the like can safeguard hot watches being sold on their platforms without incurring any cost, by simply taking all serial numbers and logging them internally. I will break this down further for you, if stolen watches are harder to sell to the masses then the occurrences of theft and recovery will be positively affected. Who is ignorant here?

[rlx123]

Sorry to hear that. I guess I’ll take my Invicta to Spain this June.


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[Clay7484]

The original post was just a warning that no matter how much precaution you take in Barcelona, if you wear a Rolex you will be targeted if it is seen at any point, by anyone working for the Mafia running the watch theft ring. When sending out my serial number I was surprised to learn that basic safeguards against theft aren’t taken by large online platforms to prevent stolen property from being sold. As an attorney, I can point out that they are opening themselves up to liability here, one reason being the cost to provide such safeguards are insignificant. There is no doubt there is a connection between the ease at which one can sell a stolen product to the masses and the price that stolen product can command. There is also no doubt that there is a direct correlation between the price one can get for a stolen watch and the incentive to commit the crime.

[SLSteve]

Originally Posted by scurfa

2 or 3 a week?


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Was mentioned in this topic somewhere.

[DonRickles]

Originally Posted by Clay7484

Don Rickles, how hard is it for you to grasp the concept that this post was in part to help prevent future watch theft. Chrono and sites of the like can safeguard hot watches being sold on their platforms without incurring any cost, by simply taking all serial numbers and logging them internally. I will break this down further for you, if stolen watches are harder to sell to the masses then the occurrences of theft and recovery will be positively affected. Who is ignorant here?

Clay7484, Again my questions have been avoided. You have mentioned only one secondary seller to point your frustrations against until now.

Let's try a few different questions...? What makes you think that these companies don't track the serial numbers? My point above, "ignorance is bliss"....they (dealers) may receive stolen merchandise, but NOT knowing, would relieve participation in the sales of stolen goods, I'd wager. Aren't these online dealers, that rarely or never actually take possession....Fine print that I'm sure you can find easily would relieve them, and if you're an attorney you should be well aware of the "terms" and words will stand up in court.

What pressures are you putting on said Chrono? They had nothing to do with the crime?

Do you really think that crimes such as this will be curtailed by your actions? Good luck in the pursuit....

Truth does hurt sometimes and that's what I have been providing. I'm not going to coddle foolishly....You were very lucky you weren't bodily harmed! The watch is gone.

I'd give you one to replace it, if I had the means. And I haven't even touched the insurance company side of this....

[Clay7484]

Rickles, for the fourth time, this effort isn’t singular (retrieving my watch), rather it’s meant to prevent further harm to those in the watch community. Again, when I contacted Chrono24 to see if any watches with my serial number had been listed, they informed my they do not require sellers to provide serial numbers to sell watches. I’m not here to argue with forum members on the internet. As for fine print, you can’t disclaim negligence.

[DonRickles]

Originally Posted by Clay7484

Rickles, for the fourth time, this effort isn’t singular (retrieving my watch), rather it’s meant to prevent further harm to those in the watch community. Again, when I contacted Chrono24 to see if any watches with my serial number had been listed, they informed my they do not require sellers to provide serial numbers to sell watches. I’m not here to argue with forum members on the internet. As for fine print, you can’t disclaim negligence.

Clay7484, first, allow me to dismiss your perception of argument. This is simply a conversation. Thwarting watch theft globally by trying to prove negligence against secondary watch companies is going to be a futile attempt. My final post here, again you have not addressed my questions. And the neglect that’s quite obvious to me. Was you wearing an expensive luxury time piece in a very well-known haven of watch criminals. Good luck in the future I wish you the best in stopping crimes.

[scurfa]

Originally Posted by SLSteve

Was mentioned in this topic somewhere.

That’s not a lot, 24 or more a week in London

[SLSteve]

Originally Posted by scurfa

That’s not a lot, 24 or more a week in London

There are 9 million people in London and a lot more wealth…

[OC Girl]

Stealth is your friend

[Lambo The Jambo]

Really sorry to hear this my friend. Glad you are both ok!

[scurfa]

Originally Posted by SLSteve

There are 9 million people in London and a lot more wealth…

And 70 watch theft gangs operating in Barcelona according to the Police there, 2-3 is not much of a share amongst that many gangs, I would say the figure is much higher and remember you have many thousands of people visiting every day all year, cruise ships pull in and out all day long, we visited 5 years ago and the hotel emailed us with a warning of mugging and watch theft.

[Rolex tom]

Unfortunately Barca is known for pickpocketing and theft. Sad this happened

[DonRickles]

TTT, Any update? Did you get the watch back?

[Clay7484]

Have not gotten the watch back.

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by duquephart

Omega = beater?

Yeah, WTH?


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[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by Clay7484

Have not gotten the watch back.

Horrible that you went through this, but good that neither of you were harmed. Hope you were insured!

Kat


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[Tqmb79]

So sorry man. Spain is known for people doing this, unfortunately. I’ve read so many stories of this happening in Spain.

[JSCP]

Originally Posted by goldboy

I wasn’t quite sure what reference this was until I read “subdials”. Glad to hear you at least got a crack on him, I would also fight for mine. People aren’t replaceable but some watches are also not replaceable and worth the scrap.

I wore my Rolex in Barcelona last year and was very aware of my surroundings, I noticed people looking - and I made sure they knew I saw them. As boxer of 15 years though it doesn’t bother me and I’ll continue to wear my nice watches whenever I travel as long as it isn’t an overly dangerous area like South America.

it can happen anywhere, including Canada.

[Wilco68]

This has probably been mentioned before somewhere else, & I’m probably being overly optimistic &/or missing something.

Given the obscene amount of money Rolex make, shouldn’t they invest in giving their customers some protection with state of the art ownership & theft registers?

Wouldn’t stop every theft occurrence, but would make stolen watches harder to dispose of & therefore be some form of theft deterrent.

Saying that Rolex do not seem an organisation that cares much for it’s customers - only their wallets….

[Krash]

My daughter spent a semester in Barcelona. She studied abroad in her JR year. We also know people who live there.

When we were planning a trip to visit there, our friends told us to leave our luxury watches at home. Do not bring any Rolex watches, period. This was pre-COVID. We took their advice and left our watches home.

Barcelona is a gorgeous city by the way. We had a great time. Definitely recommend spending a week or two there.


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[rcwatchcollector]

It is amazing to me there are watch gangs. I have not heard of this in NYC. I wear an AP daily in midtown.

Anyone hear of these types of watch gangs in NYC? But I basically work and go home. So I am not out at night etc.


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[jamesbondOO7]

Originally Posted by omar-rye

I store my change under my tongue when I’m in Barcelona

My money don’t jiggle, it folds

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by rcwatchcollector

It is amazing to me there are watch gangs. I have not heard of this in NYC. I wear an AP daily in midtown.

Anyone hear of these types of watch gangs in NYC? But I basically work and go home. So I am not out at night etc.


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If there aren't watch gangs yet, I would think they will be forming soon. As long as watches are so easy to fence for quick cash, people will move into that criminal activity, no matter where the place. Your schedule should really minimize any risk for you especially if you wear long sleeves. It seems like the spotters lurk in the social and tourist areas.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by Wilco68

This has probably been mentioned before somewhere else, & I’m probably being overly optimistic &/or missing something.

Given the obscene amount of money Rolex make, shouldn’t they invest in giving their customers some protection with state of the art ownership & theft registers?

Wouldn’t stop every theft occurrence, but would make stolen watches harder to dispose of & therefore be some form of theft deterrent.

Saying that Rolex do not seem an organisation that cares much for it’s customers - only their wallets….

https://alphahands.com/faq/rolex-stolen-watch-database/


Here is an article from 2020 on what the individual watch companies are doing.