Mugged in Buenos Aires-Rolex gone!!

[GED]

Yes, fellow TRF members, I was mugged in B.A.

But I want to make this clear: the experience,
as bad as it was, does not detract from one
of the best travel adventures I’ve ever had(and having traveled
in three dozen or so countries, this is saying a lot!).

I spent three weeks in Argentina and Uruguay and they are gloriously wonderful countries and one
of the things that makes this so is the warmth of the people. A question I kept asking myself was: what took me so long to get down here?(this was my first time).

Okay, but I still had my Air King literally ripped off my wrist.
And no, it wasn’t insured(my DJ is insured, though -but I left that at home). I know, I should have left it at home too with my DJ-my bad.

I stupidly thought because the AK flies so low under the radar that I could wear it with immunity. And the first 10 or so days I was there it was long-sleeve shirt, jacket wearing weather(it’s Spring in the Southern hemisphere)so my watch was completely hidden anyway.

But I had it ripped off on a gloriously sunny day a few days before I left on my return flight.

I was walking around Plaza Serrano in the heart of Palermo, one of the best areas of B.A. as far as crime and safety issues.

In fact, Palermo with its green bike paths, tree line streets, abundant boutiques, bars, and restaurants looks a lot like Northwest Portland and
could have been a number of other SWPL areas around the U.S.

And the way I was dressed pretty much fit in with the locals: Madras shirt(sleeves rolled up-mistake), cargo shorts and sandals.

Suddenly I was grabbed around the neck from behind and pulled to the ground. It happened very fast-I didn’t even feel the watch being removed from my wrist.

When I got up from the sidewalk, the guy had already hopped on the back of a waiting motorcycle which sped off.

People gathered around asking if I was alright, whether anything had been taken. At first I said no because I padded my pocket for my wallet and it was there(passport was back at the hotel), although the front pocket on my shirt was completely ripped down.

Then someone pointed to my wrist(which has a watch tan mark)and I suddenly got a sick feeling.

Eventually a policemen showed up, then a policewoman, then a police car
which took me to the station where I made a report-signed it and was given a copy.

A plainclothesmen who acted as an interpreter gave me his email address so I could send him the AK’s serial number, etc. I’ve done this, and also sent him a close-up photo of the watch and the pointing photo which I had originally taken to post on the “pointing” thread(moderators-this photo may be in the wrong thread but please cut me some slack! ).

(As far as Rolex spotting on my trip-I only saw two-a Citibank manager in Montevideo wore a TT DJ. And on the flight from Dallas to PDX the guy in the seat in front of me had on a rose gold President. Also, did some Rolex window shopping at the Pacifica Galleria on Florida Ave. in B.A. and at the main mall in downtown Montevideo and maybe one or two other places).

[***If any TRF members living in Buenos Aires comes across an Air King just like mine for sale, etc. don’t hesitate to PM me-I’ll PM you back the serial number along with the policeman’s email address.***]


That’s me in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay:



Rolex clock in Punta Del Este, Uruguay:




Where it was stolen: Plaza Serrano, Palermo, B.A.:



Pointing shot, Plaza de Mayo, B.A. taken a day before the rip off:



Photo of my late, great Air King I sent the Argentine Federal Police: