Entire Collection Stolen

[Al1988]

Well not really the topic I ever wanted to be writing but I stand today with all my watches stolen.

After working non stop for the past 2 years while studying at school and university, I had managed to make enough to buy an Omega SMP, Rolex GMTiic and 16610 Sub Date among other various lower tier watches. This is obviously by no means a massive collection but to me it was years of hard work that I had always dreamed of being to look back on in 20 years and remember how hard I'd worked to earn them. Cheesy, I know lol

Well I've been snowboarding this week and had taken my watches back home from university believing that my home would be more secure than my university halls. Well that clearly wasn't true as I got a call today from my brother telling me that someone had broken in had managed to empty out my room before the police responded to the house alarm. As my room was the closest to where they broke in, they only had enough time to grab things from my room, so all my watches as well as my iPhone, laptop and other electrics.

So ultimately I'm screwed really cuz the watches weren't insurered under my family's home insurance and the police have told me not to be too hopeful of seeng my watches returned. Obviously it could have been a lot worse if they had managed to get to the rest of the house/if anyone had been in but I can't help but feel pissed off when I think about some low life wearing the watches I worked so hard to earn.

Just needed to get that off my chest really as there's not a huge amount else to do. Hope this doesn't happen to anyone else

[av8ors]

Sorry for your loss...

[Dan Pierce]

Sorry to hear this, Alex. There's a special place for those who steal.
dP

[DoxaDavid]

Huge bummer Mate and I am sorry for your loss. Not trying to kick a fellow when he is down but WHY wouldn't yo have them insured? It isn't that expensive plus would have given you the piece of mind and protection.

Tough lesson to learn for sure but I am bet there will be other Rolexes for you in the future.

Not a good way to end 2010 but may the New Year bring better luck for you!

Take care,

[petesjag]

shit!!! really sorry for you!
pete

[Welshwatchman]

I'm very sorry for your bad fortune.

It may be worth your parents contacting the insurers anyway.

It may be family jewellery that is covered, though only up to a certain limit, £5,000 or so by default.

It would also be the case that the purchase receipt for the watches would likely to have your home address rather than the halls of residence, making a valid claim a possibility.

[fc3s2k]

Your iPhone has GPS maybe they can start with that.
Either way, I'm sorry to hear that. Those B*@#**DS!!!!

[kartracer22]

Sorry to hear.

[gt3pilot]

First of all sorry to hear about your theft. The cop in me says, how ironic. Did you tell anyone what your plans were ? Think hard ! These usually aren't just random acts of crime. Someone knew something or someone that told someone else etc. etc. The fact that they just hit your room makes it even more suspicious.

I know you said you had an alarm, but it first has to go off then they have to alert the police. Then you have to be lucky if an officer is close to your residence. A burglar can go through a decent size house in just a couple of minutes and get a pretty good hall. Most that actually get caught at the house are Very few and they were just unlucky or the cops where lucky.

That's just my experience after more than 30 + years of being involved in Law enforcement.


-Scott B.

[Speed]

So sorry...

But to pick up on what Barry said...did you have the "Find my iPhone" feature enabled?

[faingator]

That's never a good story to hear. I hope you recover your items. Best thing is nobody got hurt.. Things can always be replaced.

[robsteve]

Alex:

Sorry for your loss. I may just be paranoid about the new technologies, but did you take any pictures of your watches at home using your iPhone and share them anywhere? The photos may have the GPS/GeoTagging in them. Below is a thread I started on the subject of Geotagging and smart phones.

http://rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=153503

[SLS]

Really sorry to hear this. I have to agree with gt3pilot, seems odd they just hit your room. I wish you the best of luck recovering these pieces.
Scott

[NMS75]

Very sorry to hear that this has happened to you. I hope you manage to buy another Rolex one day and wear it in good health.

M

[TheLino]

Originally Posted by gt3pilot

First of all sorry to hear about your theft. The cop in me says, how ironic. Did you tell anyone what your plans were ? Think hard ! These usually aren't just random acts of crime. Someone knew something or someone that told someone else etc. etc. The fact that they just hit your room makes it even more suspicious.

I know you said you had an alarm, but it first has to go off then they have to alert the police. Then you have to be lucky if an officer is close to your residence. A burglar can go through a decent size house in just a couple of minutes and get a pretty good hall. Most that actually get caught at the house are Very few and they were just unlucky or the cops where lucky.

That's just my experience after more than 30 + years of being involved in Law enforcement.


-Scott B.

AGREED.

This really does sound like an inside job.

In either case, that sucks.

[NMS75]

Originally Posted by gt3pilot

First of all sorry to hear about your theft. The cop in me says, how ironic. Did you tell anyone what your plans were ? Think hard ! These usually aren't just random acts of crime. Someone knew something or someone that told someone else etc. etc. The fact that they just hit your room makes it even more suspicious.

I know you said you had an alarm, but it first has to go off then they have to alert the police. Then you have to be lucky if an officer is close to your residence. A burglar can go through a decent size house in just a couple of minutes and get a pretty good hall. Most that actually get caught at the house are Very few and they were just unlucky or the cops where lucky.

That's just my experience after more than 30 + years of being involved in Law enforcement.


-Scott B.

I am a cop myself with 16+ years experience and I also agree.

Gaurd your watches as best you can chaps and gals!

M

[Brit78]

That really sucks. Sorry to hear. Nobody deserves to have their hard earned things taken from them. Good luck with the police. I hope you are able to recover your watches!

[mjrennie]

Thieves. Hateful. Sorry mate.

[Atomant]

Sorry to hear that and to think that I leave my watches on my desk everyday when I'm out with my maid in.

[gaopa]

Oh, Alex, I am so sorry to hear of your loss.... Bill P.

[Rockysmom]

Sorry to hear that. That really sucks.

[sea-dweller]

I am sorry to hear of your loss.

[Tombstone]

Forgive me I am trying to help do you suspect your brother or any friends who know your Homes layout? If someone like me were to enter your home with no knowledge or your home with an alarm going off it would be impossible for me to run through you home find your room and be able to grab your property prior to being caught. I had a family member steal from me once . He knew where to go and acted very strange when questioned. I recovered my property but it sucked having to confront family. I truly hope you get your property back.

[Rodmo]

That is a terrible loss and I am very sorry to hear about it.

If it is any consolation, I always make a huge distinction between things that can be replaced (material things) and those that can't (loss of health, injury, loss of a loved one).

I know it feels bad now, but you can and will recover, and you will have nice watches again.

Take care.....

[Polemic]

So sorry to hear your loss.

[hacampbell1360]

I sorry to hear of your loss. I hope for a better ending, at the same time, I am upset to think about the low life who did this to you and your family.

[heylerds]

Damn...sorry to hear that.

[Gottog]

Originally Posted by NMS75

I am a cop myself with 16+ years experience and I also agree.
M

Not a cop here but a New Yorker born and raised. I also agree as well.
Is your brother or brother's "friends" in any financial bind? Were there Facebook (or other online social network) postings about you being back home and off snowboarding?

I'm really sorry for your loss. Losing hard earned property is like a punch in the gut. The new year can only get better. Good luck.

[Newportkrieger]

Originally Posted by Al1988

This is obviously by no means a massive collection but to me it was years of hard work that I had always dreamed of being to look back on in 20 years and remember how hard I'd worked to earn them. Cheesy, I know lol

Sorry to hear of your loss and your thought above is by no means cheesy, and in fact is very commendable! There is great honor in working hard to achieve any desired goal. If you do not recover the watches, when you get the replacements, you will still know that you earned them.

I hope that they are recovered, however slight the chance.

[Newportkrieger]

Originally Posted by Gottog

Not a cop here but a New Yorker born and raised. I also agree as well.
Is your brother or brother's "friends" in any financial bind? Were there Facebook (or other online social network) postings about you being back home and off snowboarding?

I'm really sorry for your loss. Losing hard earned property is like a punch in the gut. The new year can only get better. Good luck.

Did any friends from school know you were taking your treasured watches from school to your home on the way snowboarding? It seems like an awful coincidence as others have said above.

With the new financial realities of university tuition in England, the possibility that a friend from school or a friend of a friend may have some merit.