Stolen watch surfaced in another country

[Daimn]

Hi all, so just more than a week ago, I was in Malaysia on vacation where I had my 116519LN Meteorite stolen along with the card. Since then, I’ve been sending every single grey dealer I could find online the details of my watch asking them to please get back to me if they had any information.

Just this morning, I get pictures of my watch and card and I was told the watch was offered to him (a dealer in Istanbul, Türkiye) earlier but now the guy who’s trying to sell it is not responding at all. The dealer suspects the watch has been sold already to some other dealer in the country.

What’s troubling me the most is if another dealer has already paid for this watch from whoever stole it, he would not give it up without a fight. I do have all the documents (Police report, invoice, bank transfer records, even the outer box which has the serial number and model reference sticker on it) that prove I am the rightful owner but I am unsure how this will go down with the police in Türkiye as the watch was stolen and report was made in Malaysia where the crime occurred.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Old Expat Beast]

How and where exactly did it get stolen (with the card)? Malaysia is usually pretty safe for Rolex wearing.

[stevestil]

I would assume there is not much that can be done at this point


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[Tqmb79]

How did they get your card? You traveled with your card on you with the watch? If so, why?

[0nly5iv3Digits]

OP is obviously a dealer himself. If not a dealer then a part time dealer. He may have been trying to sell in Malaysia? The only thing that makes sense to me. May have even picked it up there from someone local. Lol

[painexpert]

I never travel to countries outside of the USA with expensive watches. I know that it can happen in the USA also but I just dont feel comfortable doing that.

[joli160]

Sorry this happened. Police is not going to do anything for you. If you want to pursue you need to lawyer up but succes with the Turkish judiciary. High costs for almost zero chance of succes especially if you are not Turkish yourself.

[Harry-57]

Watch plus card. How did that happen?

[jimcameron]

I am unsure how this will go down with the police in Türkiye


One of the cops may be wearing your watch right now.

[travisb]

I'm also curious, why would you bring the warranty card on vacation?

[DJ2020]

I have never heard of a card carrying Rolex owner. I mean really? Sounds like CB again.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by DJ2020

I have never heard of a card carrying Rolex owner. I mean really? Sounds like CB again.

Could be for proof of ownership for returning to the Maldives, or as someone said above, maybe he bought it in Malaysia.

[77T]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Could be for proof of ownership for returning to the Maldives, or as someone said above, maybe he bought it in Malaysia.

Yep.

I think the OP is between a rock and a hard place.

I feel for him - at least in my case I had all the warranty cards and could prove my ownership when two were recovered.


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[77T]

Originally Posted by Daimn

What’s troubling me the most is if another dealer has already paid for this watch from whoever stole it, he would not give it up without a fight. I do have all the documents (Police report, invoice, bank transfer records, even the outer box which has the serial number and model reference sticker on it) that prove I am the rightful owner but I am unsure how this will go down with the police in Türkiye as the watch was stolen and report was made in Malaysia where the crime occurred.

That is a secondary concern. The primary concern is to get the watch into police custody.

I had a similar case when my Rolexes were stolen in USA. One of them was recovered in the UK many years later. Even though I had all the proof of ownership, I did have to traverse the 3 different dealers (2 in UK; 1 in USA) to remove any intermediary financial interests.

It can be done. I was helped a good deal by a TRF’er who knew the first UK dealer. Also that dealer was honest guy. So was the second one. I believe the dirty one was in Long Island in USA. But that’s a whole different angle.

The parallel here is that an honest dealer reached out to you. I hope for your swift recovery since you seem to be on the trail. Get the watch seized first, then work the court system.


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[brandrea]

Welcome to the forum OP.

Sorry to hear this has happened. A small glimmer of hope is that the watch will be serviced one day by Rolex. If you report it as stolen along with with your circumstances, Rolex may hold the watch. You’d have to prove ownership, so hopefully you bought it through an AD and have supporting paperwork.

Best of luck

[Benjay]

Sorry to hear this, Just curious on how you travelled with your warranty card.

[1William]

I need more information.

[hojlund]

you travel with your warranty card, why？

[rajurama]

The guy is distressed and created the forum account just for help so stop asking him why he took card or not. If you can suggest some way to help do so orelse give the guy a break.

My take unless you physically yourself file a police complaint in Turkey by proving your ownership there's nothing much can happen. Also it seems like a lost cause with so many international borders involved. Better get a solid insurance for future.

[tng11]

No comment on the watch being stolen but travelling with the warranty card doesn't sound unusual to me especially if you're from a country with hawk eyed customs officers who want to tax you to death. Returning to Canada, I've been asked before to prove the watch was bought in Canada by either showing the warranty card or receipt, otherwise they seize the watch on the spot until you bring the proof to them. The old warranty cards had the dealer name on it, so it was the easiest way to prove it and move along.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by tng11

No comment on the watch being stolen but travelling with the warranty card doesn't sound unusual to me especially if you're from a country with hawk eyed customs officers who want to tax you to death. Returning to Canada, I've been asked before to prove the watch was bought in Canada by either showing the warranty card or receipt, otherwise they seize the watch on the spot until you bring the proof to them. The old warranty cards had the dealer name on it, so it was the easiest way to prove it and move along.

Nice to see you posting here again my friend. I hope all is well

[saltyandwet]

Originally Posted by Daimn

Hi all, so just more than a week ago, I was in Malaysia on vacation where I had my 116519LN Meteorite stolen along with the card. Since then, I’ve been sending every single grey dealer I could find online the details of my watch asking them to please get back to me if they had any information.

Just this morning, I get pictures of my watch and card and I was told the watch was offered to him (a dealer in Istanbul, Türkiye) earlier but now the guy who’s trying to sell it is not responding at all. The dealer suspects the watch has been sold already to some other dealer in the country.

What’s troubling me the most is if another dealer has already paid for this watch from whoever stole it, he would not give it up without a fight. I do have all the documents (Police report, invoice, bank transfer records, even the outer box which has the serial number and model reference sticker on it) that prove I am the rightful owner but I am unsure how this will go down with the police in Türkiye as the watch was stolen and report was made in Malaysia where the crime occurred.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Having the original box with the serial & model #, original receipt, bank transfer and invoice only proves that you WERE once the owner of this watch. You can't prove that you didn't sell the watch w/o box and papers on a hand shake deal. Good luck tho.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by saltyandwet

Having the original box with the serial & model #, original receipt, bank transfer and invoice only proves that you WERE once the owner of this watch. You can't prove that you didn't sell the watch w/o box and papers on a hand shake deal. Good luck tho.

He filed a police report which should help. If he’s lying then he has a bigger issue

[kopi-c]

Originally Posted by Daimn

Hi all, so just more than a week ago, I was in Malaysia on vacation where I had my 116519LN Meteorite stolen along with the card. Since then, I’ve been sending every single grey dealer I could find online the details of my watch asking them to please get back to me if they had any information.

Just this morning, I get pictures of my watch and card and I was told the watch was offered to him (a dealer in Istanbul, Türkiye) earlier but now the guy who’s trying to sell it is not responding at all. The dealer suspects the watch has been sold already to some other dealer in the country.

What’s troubling me the most is if another dealer has already paid for this watch from whoever stole it, he would not give it up without a fight. I do have all the documents (Police report, invoice, bank transfer records, even the outer box which has the serial number and model reference sticker on it) that prove I am the rightful owner but I am unsure how this will go down with the police in Türkiye as the watch was stolen and report was made in Malaysia where the crime occurred.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

How did it happen, stolen while sightseeing, or taken from your hotel/room?
Also where you in JB or KL?

[PenDelicate]

Sorry to hear this. Was the watch insured?

[JasoninDenver]

This seems a little suspicious to me. But if I am wrong, best wishes to the OP. Sure would like to hear more about how this resolves.

[996marty]

As others have said seems strange having both watch and card together whilst on holidays

[tng11]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Nice to see you posting here again my friend. I hope all is well

Really good! Been in a state of contentment with my current lineup and tired of all the grey market/$ discussions so I have been taking a bit of a break!

[TC94]

Originally Posted by rajurama

The guy is distressed and created the forum account just for help so stop asking him why he took card or not. If you can suggest some way to help do so orelse give the guy a break.

My take unless you physically yourself file a police complaint in Turkey by proving your ownership there's nothing much can happen. Also it seems like a lost cause with so many international borders involved. Better get a solid insurance for future.

Perhaps posters aren’t being helpful because he created an account in 2020, never posted, returns 36 hrs ago, described an unusual situation (carrying a card), asked for urgent advice and then never came back to give additional info or to discuss followup.

[doyall]

After reading this

https://www.fratellowatches.com/bewa...eting-watches/

I carry my latest Rolex service card with me as proof of prior acquisition when wearing one outside the USA.