Attempted Rolex theft in my own home

[Guppydriver]

Two things.

1. I'm sorry you were a victim OP, nobody deserves that.

2. Thanks you for sharing your story. If it can help one person, present or future, from being victimized, it will have been worth any social cost to post.

[waterman1]

Holy crap! Glad you are ok. Forget the watch. This could have gone very badly. You are one lucky person.

[Cauhauna]

Paul Thorpe covered this scam in 2021

Glad you sniffed it out, OP

Here's the video - they also did this scam on the weekend (Sunday)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqZJEM_f3xw

[Lovebird]

It’s certainly crazy times when you can’t invite random strangers into your own HOME to sell small luxury goods that can be easily slipped into a pocket.

[BLNR Nairobi]

I am glad you’re safe.

[boltz]

This is so sad and scary, glad you stood your ground anyways but for the record never deal at your home.

[Little machines]

Sad you had to go through this! Things could have gone really bad . You're okay and they're probably not coming back.Just stay vigilant and definitely safe guard the watches .

[77T]

Appreciate that you chose to share your cautionary tale. I can’t add any further advice or tales that haven’t already been mentioned.

The technique with a portable valuables (watches, jewelry, etc.) is much different than the autos you’ve sold. I understand how an FB + meet-up (even at home) had been your successful method before this incident.

For any who are perplexed about doing meet-ups at a police station, consider yourself fortunate that online-centric snatch/grab, mugging, and even murder hasn’t risen to the point that such deterrence is necessary. We’ve had murders in ATL area over Air Jordan’s no less.

Here where I live (and many more zipcodes in USA) our LEO’s find that having a safe place is a greater defense against such crimes. For us, there are zero thieves who wish to put themselves so close to capture. This reduces the load on LEO’s having to find the miscreants. Sure, you could be handed bundles of fake currency, but that’s a chance you take in any cash deal. Bring a Counterfeit Detector Pen with Dri Mark technology if you plan to accept cash in a F2F.

It isn’t a cure-all but a police station is a safer place if one plans to use FB or any online platform to sell - even TRF sales that consummate in F2F have their risks.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Driver8]

Absolute nightmare situation for you, OP.

I think the "don't invite random folk into your home" angle has been more than covered by numerous respondees here, so I'm just glad to hear you're OK. Also, thanks for sharing this as a cautionary tale: if it helps even one person avoid this type of thing in future then it's been worth sharing.

Again, glad you're OK, and I hope you've been able to safeguard your accounts/identity, etc.

[OG1982]

Not sure why people are recommending conducting transactions at police stations? Pretty sure this isn't a service that is offered by the police...

Sorry this happened to you OP, sounds like you had a narrow escape.

[Hurricane]

Originally Posted by Ollie1982

Not sure why people are recommending conducting transactions at police stations? Pretty sure this isn't a service that is offered by the police...

Sorry this happened to you OP, sounds like you had a narrow escape.

Several of our local county sheriff's offices and city police offer these types of services for the public - safe public meeting spaces (with surveillance) to conduct safe transactions.

I don't think my county does but several in the area have done so for years. I've sold things in the parking lot in front of our local station (in front of the entrance) before and felt pretty safe if anything went south.

[Driver8]

Originally Posted by Hurricane

Several of our local county sheriff's offices and city police offer these types of services for the public - safe public meeting spaces (with surveillance) to conduct safe transactions.

I don't think my county does but several in the area have done so for years. I've sold things in the parking lot in front of our local station (in front of the entrance) before and felt pretty safe if anything went south.

That's a nice additional service to provide. There's absolutely NOTHING like that in the UK. (Not exactly unsurprising given the high tolerance for criminality we seem to "enjoy" in the UK these days, but that's another story). Consequently I've ended up doing face-to-face watch deals in shopping centre and service station car parks before! I wouldn't do that nowadays, especially given how every scumbag criminal knows how easy to steal expensive watches are.

[fredos_rolex]

Yeah, I don't get the "bank or police station" advice. It's not a Starbucks store, they're not going to let you just waltz in to the lobby and conduct your personal business. ???

[danwang0520]

Personally, I would not sell a watch at my own house...it would eliminate any troubles down the road

[thesharkfactor]

I've been onto my bank and they have assured me the guy can do nothing with my acc details other than put money in my acc or try use it for ID to apply for credit. Therefore I have been onto CIFAS and now have 'protective registration' which will help protect me against any attempted fraud using my details.

The watches are out of the house for the time being. The door front is being barricaded at night when I sleep, I know it won't stop them but it may slow them down and may give me time to escape and try get help.

I never felt vulnerable before but I do now. What a world. Again, I have been running a business from home for the last 20yrs selling cars and never had a problem other than tyre kickers and as you can imagine I have heard it all from the public. I'm not easy fooled and I can see a scam a mile away but I'm not a strong or a tough guy.

I'll not be dealing from home any more, not even cars. I make my living meeting strangers so it has to go on, though from here on moving forward I'll make sure there is always at least two of us now if an item is being sold.

You cannot deal in a bank or police station, this is the UK and that is not a thing here and nobody is going to buy a Rolex in McDonalds car park, and a wide open public space leaves you open to be robbed so your options are limited. I know if I'm buying a watch, I'd rather go to the sellers home as that offers some reassurance. This is the UK, the culture is this way.

The watch was not switched during the scam, no way, this is an old Sub with character, modern ones all look the same.

I think I'm going to give this watch to a grey dealer on consignment, I'll not be selling watches myself. Nearly every enquiry I get is either a postal scam or a low ball trade offer after a time waste sending more pics and jumping through hoops.

[Tim Plains]

Originally Posted by thesharkfactor

The watches are out of the house for the time being. The door front is being barricaded at night when I sleep, I know it won't stop them but it may slow them down and may give me time to escape and try get help.

They likely will not come back but I would be more concerned about an ambush entering/leaving the property. I know a lady who owns a restaurant, her husband passed, so it's just her, and she was ambushed by employees in masks who knew she took the cash home at night. She opened her garage door, drove in, they rushed in and beat her really bad.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by thesharkfactor

I've been onto my bank and they have assured me the guy can do nothing with my acc details other than put money in my acc or try use it for ID to apply for credit. Therefore I have been onto CIFAS and now have 'protective registration' which will help protect me against any attempted fraud using my details.

The watches are out of the house for the time being. The door front is being barricaded at night when I sleep, I know it won't stop them but it may slow them down and may give me time to escape and try get help.

I never felt vulnerable before but I do now. What a world. Again, I have been running a business from home for the last 20yrs selling cars and never had a problem other than tyre kickers and as you can imagine I have heard it all from the public. I'm not easy fooled and I can see a scam a mile away but I'm not a strong or a tough guy.

I'll not be dealing from home any more, not even cars. I make my living meeting strangers so it has to go on, though from here on moving forward I'll make sure there is always at least two of us now if an item is being sold.

You cannot deal in a bank or police station, this is the UK and that is not a thing here and nobody is going to buy a Rolex in McDonalds car park, and a wide open public space leaves you open to be robbed so your options are limited. I know if I'm buying a watch, I'd rather go to the sellers home as that offers some reassurance. This is the UK, the culture is this way.

The watch was not switched during the scam, no way, this is an old Sub with character, modern ones all look the same.

I think I'm going to give this watch to a grey dealer on consignment, I'll not be selling watches myself. Nearly every enquiry I get is either a postal scam or a low ball trade offer after a time waste sending more pics and jumping through hoops.

Good points. People always suggest doing these transactions in a bank, police station or jewelry store. These establishments do not want to be in the middle of these transactions disrupting their businesses/operations or assume any risk or liability for any fraud in the deal.

[travisb]

You're lucky. This could have ended very badly. Not just your watch but for you personally. Glad it didn't. Thanks for sharing the story and as said, never do sales out of your home.

[Mercmanr]

Terrible situation. I'm in the UK and when I was thinking about selling one of my watches-changed my mind since-i went into my bank spoke to the manager and explained the situation and they said it was fine to do the exchange in the bank and they were very nice about it. I doubt very much a police station would be an option. Grey dealer on consignment is probably the way to go unfortunately

[alllexandru]

incredible sad however you are very lucky nothing really bad happened, could have been much worse.

glad that you are safe after all.

[rolex_pl85]

For high value items I never sell at home.

For a car I will meet them at my mechanics shop, for a watch at a watchmaker, bank or police station.

I hate ppl coming to my home and knowing what I have there whether it be an expensive car, watch or something else they may have eye'd whilst they are there.

I only ever sell small items at home <$1000 and only do it in the garage. I never let any strangers in my house.

[Hems]

Sorry to hear about your experience. I don't personally encourage selling at home, I don't let a buyer know my home, that was a mistake I'd say. Glad you were not hurt physically.

[Soultime]

OP
Get a Ring (or similar) Cctv setup asap.
They are not expensive but very good. Currently on offer at a well known online seller.

I had an armed robbery in 2007 at home, by a gang at 3am - when they got cars and jewellery.
I sold the house, but never slept well for years.

I then got Ring cameras covering the front door and outside. They dont cost much. But I have them set up to alert me in the night if there is ever a person detected outside between 11pm and 5am. It works really, really well.

In addition, I sometimes see undesirable doorstep sales people etc look at the camera and walk away as they dont want to be recorded.

Good luck.

[MrMercedes]

Glad nothing happened to you. It could have turned out differently.

[Gerry62]

Never at home, however it went well ....

[Calatrava r]

This scam could have worked well anywhere IMO. If you trust the money was wired with no actual confirmation and you let the watch go, your done and been had, no matter where you are.

[rolexgs]

invite two strangers into your house to sell a watch, are you out of your beautiful mind?

[NachoNeal]

As ex law enforcement with combat training I have never had a fear of selling anything from my home. And we would have never permitted a private commercial transaction to be conducted on government property.

[Chiboy]

I commented earlier about researching FB buyers and making sure they don't have a new account. In FL when I have sold furniture, I ask for their real name as I have to give it to the gate who will check ID. I think that helps weed out bad folks. If I were selling a watch, I would demand a picture of their driver's license before agreeing to meet, and check out their name, address, etc. I would also tell them that I will take their picture before selling the watch. I think that might scare off many of those scammers. You can't be too vigilant these days, unfortunately.

[m j b]

The thread is chilling, but I'm glad the OP is OK and came out of it OK, financially anyway.

I've done lots of selling from my house, no issues. FTF Rolex sale was done once at the buyer's business, also no problems. But I researched him first.

Most people are honest. It's the 1% criminals that ruin it for the rest of us.