Tragedy -HELP!

[jedione65]

Hello all,
Some bad news unfortunately. Our house was broken into an burglarized with a safe taken and our whole watch collection (both me and my wife). It was a medium safe an pretty heavy so it had to have been 2 people or more as they did it quickly in about a 2 hour window.
We lost our entire watch collection which was of significant value but also sentimental as we were passionate about our watch collection and worked hard to build it.
They scoured our entire house but mainly only took the safe and some other small things, mainly some of my wife's purses. They went through all they watch boxes but didn't take any of the boxes so I still have all the boxes and warranty cards with accessories (go figure how smart these people are). We filed a police report of course but it may be hopeless.

Is there any way to report the watches stolen to a database? There were multiple Rolex watches so is there a way to directly report the serial numbers to a stolen watch database? I know there is a low chance if recovery but if somehow our watches turn up on the market I would like to know and also want them to get what's coming.

If it would help to post pictures with serial numbers of the stolen watches here, I would be happy to do so as well. Any help of advice would be appreciated.

And no, unfortunately none of these were insured, so it is a big loss. We though we really lived in a safe neighborhood, very quiet and seldom frequented by many people. Until now.

[wesdaniel]

I'm sorry to read about this. It's terrible to know when this happens.

Obviously, filing a police report was the right thing to do. It's unfortunate that they weren't insured. Was the safe secured to a stud or joist? Or free standing?

I think that posting serial numbers in as many places as you can will be a good thing for search engines to catch them and people to be able to identify them as stolen with a Google search. Here, Reddit, Moda, etc. Get the word out.

You can file a stolen watch report with Rolex USA by calling 212-980-2166 or emailing [email protected] and they will send you a form to fill out. You'll have to provide your police report information, etc. But, it's really only effective if, by chance, your watch makes it into a Rolex USA Service Center. My watch (stolen in 2013) has never made it into a service center.

Best of luck to you and really sorry to read about this.

[joli160]

Wow, I feel for you. Hope you can get past this soon.

[alex.cicollo]

Oh my goodness, that’s awful. I feel your pain. Sending bestest of wishes…

[KatGirl]

So sorry to hear you lost your watch colkection. I know the feeling. My home was burglarized last year. I hadn’t been there much, as I was at my SO’s home most of the time. They went through everything I owned. It’s an awful feeling, to know someone violated your “safe space”. Fortunately, my more expensive watches were with me.’, though they did steal my IMac, printer, Dyson Vac, etc. , some pricey diamond jewelry, none of which was insured, as I was renting, and never bothered to get insurance. I checked local pawn shops, flea markets, etc., with no luck. Follow the advice given above. I wish you the best.

Kat


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[Calatrava r]

Sorry to hear about your lose. Best wishes to get it all sorted out the best you can. If thieves have time in a house, they can find and take everything they want.

[fooey]

Sorry about this, mate. It's unbelievable!
Did u have a camera or at least a ring doorbell to try and identify these thieving scumbags?

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[~JJ]

Sorry to hear this and hope they catch these people. I hate thieves and feeling violated afterwards. Send Rolex the serial numbers and I hope the best for you and your wife.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by jedione65

. . .
Is there any way to report the watches stolen to a database? There were multiple Rolex watches so is there a way to directly report the serial numbers to a stolen watch database? I know there is a low chance if recovery but if somehow our watches turn up on the market I would like to know and also want them to get what's coming.

. . .

There are a number of databases on the Internet, but they are near worthless, and I don't know of any watch recovered by using these. It may give peace of mind that there may be an honest broker out there that finds one.

Rolex used to take a valid police report and flag serial numbers so they could be reported if sent for service. Give Rolex a call and see if they still do this.

[Dave O]

So sorry to hear of your loss. It truly is a shame and I hope the thief's get what they deserve.

In today's world, no matter how good of a neighborhood we think we live in, none of us are safe from scumbags such as this. We all need to invest in a good theft deterrent system such as a robust alarm system with cameras. If you don't already have one, it is well worth the investment.

[acorn]

That’s very upsetting I’m sure. Thankfully no one was injured. Still traumatizing but had you been home it would’ve been more so. Stories like this are why I carry insurance.

[jb335]

Damn. I am so sorry and wishing you the best in recovery. Both materially and emotionally.

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by Dave O

So sorry to hear of your loss. It truly is a shame and I hope the thief's get what they deserve.

In today's world, no matter how good of a neighborhood we think we live in, none of us are safe from scumbags such as this. We all need to invest in a good theft deterrent system such as a robust alarm system with cameras. If you don't already have one, it is well worth the investment.

We’ve been thinking about that lately. I also want to get a high end very heavy safe, bolted to the floor, inside the bedroom closet, now that my collecting has taken a higher end turn.

Kat


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[East of Eden]

Very sorry for your loss, same thing happened to my parents. This is why if uninsured I recommend creative hiding places, a safe is telling the perp where the goodies are, there is no safe that can’t be broken into or removed

[DavidSB]

There's been an increase in home robberies in S. Calif and the police report that the bedroom is the first place they look for a safe.

[Mr. K]

Sorry to hear this. Report to Rolex. Hopefully it will get sent in for service one day and you will get you watch back. Better chance as Rolex has a tight grip on oem parts.

Again, VERY sorry to hear about your situation

[jedione65]

Originally Posted by Dave O

So sorry to hear of your loss. It truly is a shame and I hope the thief's get what they deserve.

In today's world, no matter how good of a neighborhood we think we live in, none of us are safe from scumbags such as this. We all need to invest in a good theft deterrent system such as a robust alarm system with cameras. If you don't already have one, it is well worth the investment.

Yes we now realize this and will plan to get an alarm system. Suggestions for a good one?

[jb335]

Originally Posted by jedione65

Yes we now realize this and will plan to get an alarm system. Suggestions for a good one?

I see you’re in LA. I have family in LA that uses Post Alarm and they are happy with them. It’s not very expensive at all either.


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[jb335]

Originally Posted by DavidSB

There's been an increase in home robberies in S. Calif and the police report that the bedroom is the first place they look for a safe.

True. I never knew anyone that had their home robbed in LA until the last couple years. I know of three in the last two years.


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[jedione65]

Originally Posted by fooey

Sorry about this, mate. It's unbelievable!
Did u have a camera or at least a ring doorbell to try and identify these thieving scumbags?

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They went broke in the back facing master bedroom which had a sliding glass door. Ironically one of our side doors was unlocked but they didn’t even use that. I don’t think a ring doorbell would have helped. I’ve asked our neighbors some of which have these ring video doorbells and none of them had caught anything.

[offrdmania]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

We’ve been thinking about that lately. I also want to get a high end very heavy safe, bolted to the floor, inside the bedroom closet, now that my collecting has taken a higher end turn.

Kat


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My safe is mounted in a closet to the floor and wall. There is also a camera in the closet pointing outward, recording 24 hours a day with battery back-up and footage sent to an off-site server. Only way to do it.

[996marty]

Sorry to hear your really bad news. Hoping someone around you possibly had cctv and you catch the lowlifes.

[Robf52]

Terrible. Our house was broken into years ago while we were away and I'll never forget the feeling of being violated. Wish you all the best in getting your property back.

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

My safe is mounted in a closet to the floor and wall. There is also a camera in the closet pointing outward, recording 24 hours a day with battery back-up and footage sent to an off-site server. Only way to do it.

Wow! That sounds great. Is that done through a monitoring service? If so, send me a PM. I’ve already picked out a safe, at a safe co. In Sacramento. They will install it.

Kat


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[Dave O]

Originally Posted by jedione65

Yes we now realize this and will plan to get an alarm system. Suggestions for a good one?

I use Alarm Relay and I believe they are headquartered in SoCal. They are basically a monitoring company but I believe they can help getting a system installed as well.

[MichelleP]

This is horrible. I am so sorry this happened. I've thought about a safe but since I live in a condo and can't bolt it down, felt there wasn't a point. I have insurance and that gives me some piece of mind.

[1st amg]

Man, that is awful. So so sorry to hear this, especially since it sounds like a sizeable collection. For the life of me, I do not understand why you would not have insurance. The value seems very high as you alluded to, and the monthly cost for the premium is very minimal to your value of the watches. Live and learn I suppose.
Post the serial numbers along with the watch brand and model number here, with pics too. Contact Rolex and advise them of the watches stolen with serial numbers. Hope there is a good ending to this.

[East of Eden]

Originally Posted by MichelleP

This is horrible. I am so sorry this happened. I've thought about a safe but since I live in a condo and can't bolt it down, felt there wasn't a point. I have insurance and that gives me some piece of mind.

No wall studs in a condo?

[1st amg]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

We’ve been thinking about that lately. I also want to get a high end very heavy safe, bolted to the floor, inside the bedroom closet, now that my collecting has taken a higher end turn.

Kat


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As the OP said, the thieves spent a couple of hours in their home, no matter if a safe is bolted to the floor, these guys will have it removed. Its a sad day and age and this stuff seems to be happening a lot more.

[HL65]

Sorry to hear that is awful!