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Alpes-Maritimes: luxury watch thefts are increasing
On the Côte d’Azur, luxury watch thefts have been increasing in recent weeks, with the same modus operandi always being employed: hold-ups or snatch-and-grab thefts. The damages can amount to several million euros.
(France 2)
On the Côte d’Azur, luxury watch thefts have been increasing in recent weeks, with the same modus operandi always being employed: hold-ups or snatch-and-grab thefts. The damages can amount to several million euros.
In Cannes (Alpes-Maritimes), everything is ready to welcome wealthy tourists. The Croisette attracts millionaires, but also thieves, who target luxury watches. Several extremely wealthy holidaymakers have been victims of luxury watch snatchings. The modus operandi is often the same: an ultra-violent assault. In Monaco, a man disguised as an elderly person took out a weapon and completely emptied the counter of a watch shop, making off with 4.6 million euros. The thieves are still on the run.
A security guard is now permanently in front of the establishment, and the cameras are all connected to the Monaco police. On the Côte d’Azur, the PJ investigators are dealing with around fifty cases. Luxury watches are a speculative market where second-hand watches are often worth more than new ones, which attracts criminal groups.For watches worth between 150,000 and 200,000 euros, it’s much more interesting than robbing a bank, (…) and much safer than engaging in drug trafficking.”explains Divisional Commissioner Éric Antonetti, head of the judicial police of the Alpes-Maritimes.
