Luxury Watch Thefts Surge on the Côte d’Azur
In 2024, luxury watch thefts have significantly increased in the Alpes-Maritimes region, with criminals stealing watches valued at over €8 million. The pattern is consistently alarming: thieves perform detailed surveillance, strike quickly and often violently, then escape by scooter into the surrounding hills.
Targets and Methods
Both pedestrians and specialized retailers fall victim to these crimes. Monaco, previously protected by its extensive CCTV system, has recently experienced high-profile thefts as well.
Notable Incidents in Monaco
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On 29 May, Monaco Watch Company suffered an armed robbery lasting six minutes, losing watches worth more than €4 million.
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On 12 November, The Watch Project was raided quickly, with four watches stolen in minutes.
Thefts Beyond Shops
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In April 2024, American tennis player Sebastian Korda was attacked in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin by two masked men who stole his €300,000 Richard Mille watch after throwing him to the ground.
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In late August, a student in Nice tried to exchange a counterfeit Rolex for a genuine one valued at €48,000 at the Hôtel de Paris. He was arrested at Place du Casino and sentenced to four months in prison.
"The same scenario is replaying with worrying regularity. Thieves conduct careful surveillance, a lightning-quick, sometimes violent strike, then a getaway by scooter into the hills."
Author's summary: The Côte d’Azur faces a sharp rise in luxury watch thefts in 2024, with both public figures and stores targeted in swift, often violent attacks.