Luxury Watches Become Increasingly Targeted by Thieves on the Côte d’Azur
In 2024, thefts involving luxury watches surged in the Alpes-Maritimes region, with criminals making off with an estimated €8 million worth of stolen items. The pattern is consistent: thieves carry out meticulous surveillance, strike swiftly and sometimes violently, then escape on scooters into the hills.
Methods and Targets
- Thieves target both pedestrians and specialty stores.
- Monaco, previously protected by extensive CCTV, has seen high-profile thefts recently.
Notable Incidents in Monaco
- On May 29, Monaco Watch Company experienced a dramatic six-minute armed robbery, losing over €4 million worth of watches.
- On November 12, The Watch Project was hit during a quick raid, with four watches stolen in minutes.
Thefts Outside of Shops
- In April 2024, tennis player Sebastian Korda was attacked by two masked men in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, who stole his €300,000 Richard Mille watch.
- In late August, a student from Nice was caught attempting to exchange a fake Rolex for a genuine one worth €48,000 at the Hôtel de Paris and was sentenced to four months in prison.
"On 29 May, Monaco Watch Company was the victim of a spectacular six-minute armed robbery in which more than €4 million worth of watches were stolen."
"In April 2024, American tennis player Sebastian Korda had his €300,000 Richard Mille stolen in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin after being thrown to the ground by two masked men."
These incidents highlight a growing trend of audacious, well-organized thefts impacting the luxury watch market in the region.
Author's summary: The Côte d’Azur is facing a surge in luxury watch thefts marked by swift, violent robberies and an increasingly bold criminal presence extending beyond shops to individuals.