{"id":323595,"date":"2025-11-07T17:18:26","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T15:18:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/2025\/11\/luxury-watches-the-latest-target-for-thieves-on-the-cote-dazur\/"},"modified":"2025-11-07T17:21:58","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T15:21:58","slug":"luxury-watches-the-latest-target-for-thieves-on-the-cote-dazur","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/en\/2025\/11\/luxury-watches-the-latest-target-for-thieves-on-the-cote-dazur\/","title":{"rendered":"Luxury watches, the latest target for thieves on the C\u00f4te d\u2019Azur"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Luxury watch thefts are an escalating problem in the region: in 2024, criminals stole an estimated haul worth more than \u20ac8 million in the Alpes-Maritimes alone.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. Criminals target both people in the street and specialist shops. Monaco, long spared from snatch thefts thanks to its dense network of CCTV cameras, is no longer immune: the Principality suffered two high-profile heists in 2024. On 29 May, Monaco Watch Company was the victim of a spectacular six-minute<\/a> armed robbery in which more than \u20ac4 million worth of watches were stolen. On 12 November, The Watch Project was hit by a rapid raid, with four watches taken in a matter of minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thefts are not limited to shops. In April 2024, American tennis player Sebastian Korda had his \u20ac300,000 Richard Mille stolen<\/a> in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin after being thrown to the ground by two masked men. In late August, a student from Nice attempted to swap a fake Rolex for a genuine one valued at \u20ac48,000 at the H\u00f4tel de Paris. Arrested at the Place du Casino<\/a>, he was sentenced to four months in prison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trial of \u201cfake Belgian residents\u201d: Christian Carpinelli sentenced to three years in prison and \u20ac100,000 fine<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enhanced police operation<\/strong>s <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Law-enforcement on both sides of the border have had to adapt their measures. The Principality relies on Police Department officers and a CCTV system. Investigations reveal organised networks that rework stolen watches, altering serial numbers before selling them on sites such as Chrono24 or using them to launder drug money abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Une publication partag\u00e9e par TVMonaco (@tvmonaco)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n