Rolex Stolen from wrist in Barcelona

[RFC]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

Its why I do not wear or take expensive stuff to strange places. It's not a big deal until it happens to one of us. Then it is. Glad you are both okay.

Barcelona is not a strange place unless you find LA, NYC, or London strange too where Rolex robberies are not rare. I felt safe in Barcelona a month ago, but decided to travel with an Omega. Sorry to hear that from the OP. What a shame.

[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by RFC

Barcelona is not a strange place unless you find LA, NYC, or London strange too where Rolex robberies are not rare. I felt safe in Barcelona a month ago, but decided to travel with an Omega. Sorry to hear that from the OP. What a shame.

The base crime rates don’t tell the story. Barcelona and a few other highly touristed European cities have incredibly skilled groups of watch thieves with an organized process of fencing their bounty. No American city compares in that specific respect, even if several American cities have higher incidence of violent crime.

[huncho]

Originally Posted by RFC

Barcelona is not a strange place unless you find LA, NYC, or London strange too where Rolex robberies are not rare. I felt safe in Barcelona a month ago, but decided to travel with an Omega. Sorry to hear that from the OP. What a shame.

we really comparing barcelona to nyc now?

[nachopc]

Originally Posted by russ86

Sorry to hear, Europe is not what it used to be.

Europe is exactly what it use to be, the Rolex problem is worldwide, this happens in LA, NY, London, Ibiza, etc my dear.


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[banzrs311]

Sad to hear how often this occurs, so many cities feel unsafe for this


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[scurfa]

Barcelona has been notorious for watch thieves for a long time now, me and my wife were there around 8 years ago and the hotel warned us before we arrived, when we were there another guest was chased and had a two tone sub stolen, the only time you will be safe there is when the watch thieves travel to other countries, they visit Ibiza and Palma Majorca quite regularly


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[Clay7484]

I feel like an idiot. I didnt do any research. Generally thought pick-pocket ok, keep items out of pockets that aren't zipped, no purses for the girls, keep your watch on at all times. This happened so quickly, I was trying to hit the guy with my free arm before I knew what was happening. Then they were gone. I am in Europe doing delivery on a Porsche. The car wasn't valeted at the first hotel we stayed at. We parked it in the hotels shared garage and then checked in. We spent four nights in a locals area without any issue. Within 2 hours of checking in at the W we were identified and then targeted. It was either the valet or someone at or real close to the hotel that tipped off the ring. We were in winter clothes, The watch was covered up, oyster flex band, nothing really stuck out without getting close. I went through the motions on the police report today. The police said there is a new, legit mafia, running the watch racket. They said 2-3 watches stolen off of a person a week.

[madgpol]

Sorry to hear of your loss OP. Unfortunately watches are very easily traded by these scum. I don't see the situation improving any time soon so choose to wear beaters when traveling

[Watchwoody]

Sorry to hear about that. Sad we can’t enjoy these things without worry. I recently went to Europe for a few weeks and debated wearing one of my Rolex or an Apple Watch. Decided I wasn’t going to live in fear so I wore the Rolex. I’m usually relatively aware of my surroundings and keep a good eye on those around me. I didn’t have the slightest worry in Croatia, Santorini or even Paris but in Athens I noticed some wandering eyes and had a couple guys tail me for a few blocks before my girl and I stepped into a hotel.

Hope someone sends your watch in for service and you get it back.

[amh]

Originally Posted by Clay7484

I feel like an idiot. I didnt do any research. Generally thought pick-pocket ok, keep items out of pockets that aren't zipped, no purses for the girls, keep your watch on at all times. This happened so quickly, I was trying to hit the guy with my free arm before I knew what was happening. Then they were gone. I am in Europe doing delivery on a Porsche. The car wasn't valeted at the first hotel we stayed at. We parked it in the hotels shared garage and then checked in. We spent four nights in a locals area without any issue. Within 2 hours of checking in at the W we were identified and then targeted. It was either the valet or someone at or real close to the hotel that tipped off the ring. We were in winter clothes, The watch was covered up, oyster flex band, nothing really stuck out without getting close. I went through the motions on the police report today. The police said there is a new, legit mafia, running the watch racket. They said 2-3 watches stolen off of a person a week.

Thanks for the details. You certainly shouldn't feel bad, not like you were strolling around in a T-shirt swinging your Rolex for all to see!

[chemguy]

dang that sucks. Better than what they are doing in LA though. Glad you didnt get hurt.

[DonRickles]

Hmmm, I can barely get my hand through the bracelets (large hands). Does the bracelet snap or break off? I ask this is all sincerity. I also hope never to ever learn these techniques in person.....

[Andad]

Originally Posted by huncho

we really comparing barcelona to nyc now?

I dont understand your post?


Didn't Paul cover this in post44?

[Rafeeq]

So sorry to hear this,Clay--glad you're OK, though.

[chows99]

If I am the local police, I will plant people who wear replica Rolex watch and lure them in.

[Db7566]

Originally Posted by chows99

If I am the local police, I will plant people who wear replica Rolex watch and lure them in.

They have bigger fish to fry than watch theft.


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[omar-rye]

Originally Posted by Db7566

They have bigger fish to fry than watch theft.


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Like what? It’s not just petty watch theft from someone’s gym locker. It’s a mafia targeting, assaulting, and killing innocent people at times

[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by Andad

I dont understand your post?


Didn't Paul cover this in post44?

He covered it for those who aren’t good with statistics or nuance. He gave the total number of crimes (of all types) per city. In New York the vast majority of crime is larceny or burglary. Whereas taking a watch off a man’s wrist by force would be robbery.

But even most robberies have nothing to do with a watch. So reading his chart provides virtually zero information regarding where you’re more likely to have your Rolex stolen off your wrist

[LA_LEC]

This a typical thief. A professional watch thief can spot an expensive watch from a block away and by the time they are on you and have the watch they are gone. They strike quickly (They know exactly how to twist the watch to remove it) and usually have an accomplice who is on a motorbike. More typically they strike at outdoor cafes.

Glad you are OK certainly and hopefully some will reference this when the next stupid "Is it safe to wear a Rolex X"!

[rambo99]

rolex is not safe for travel, so sad!

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Star Ferry

He covered it for those who aren’t good with statistics or nuance. He gave the total number of crimes (of all types) per city. In New York the vast majority of crime is larceny or burglary. Whereas taking a watch off a man’s wrist by force would be robbery.

But even most robberies have nothing to do with a watch. So reading his chart provides virtually zero information regarding where you’re more likely to have your Rolex stolen off your wrist

In most cities the vast majority of crime is larceny or burglary.

In the absence of any meaningful watch robbery statistics from you, I will go with Paul’s chart as a guide.

[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by Andad

In most cities the vast majority of crime is larceny or burglary.

In the absence of any meaningful watch robbery statistics from you, I will go with Paul’s chart as a guide.

There are no meaningful statistics on luxury watch robbery. What’s been happening in Barcelona and a few other European cities has been a big problem for years now. We’ve started to see similar crimes in LA and New York, but not to the same extent.

While I don’t find it surprising that you’d seize opportunities to disagree with me, believe an irrelevant bar chart that Paul grabbed on Google, and relish in statistics that cast the United States in a negative light … I don’t understand why we have to provide bad quality information here.

The Barcelona issue with watches is well known, and if folks didn’t consistently sugar coat it, the OP might have gotten a warning before his trip.

[YoungMoneyAssassin]

So sorry to hear. As others have said, main thing is that you and the lady are ok. A watch isn’t worth getting outnumbered/stabbed. I’m glad you didn’t pursue them, they may have nothing to lose.


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[madgpol]

Originally Posted by chows99

If I am the local police, I will plant people who wear replica Rolex watch and lure them in.

Whilst I agree with this idea it does come with risk. These scum probably carry a knife and are prepared to use them. Seen in some cases in London. Also the way the law is now they would most likely get off on being set up.

Very sad world we live in these days.

[domi1]

In Europe, the most famous thieves for stealing watches in citys Napoli, Barcelona and London

[amh]

Originally Posted by omar-rye

Like what? It’s not just petty watch theft from someone’s gym locker. It’s a mafia targeting, assaulting, and killing innocent people at times

Protecting government officials, of course

[kmzandrew777]

Spain has a ton of thieves. I remember my first time visiting Madrid and they were peddling their wares outside the trains station, bags, sunglasses, phones, and some watches. On a later to Spain, some guy tried to steal my iPhone while I was texting (this was in Malaga). He didn't manage to get it and instead of running tried to grab my arm so I shoved him and he went flying into the street. Looking back it's probably good that it was late as he would have gotten hit by a car otherwise and the socialists in Spain would have probably prosecuted me for not letting him steal my phone.

[Soultime]

I am glad you are both ok OP.
You will get over it in time (speaking from experience).

Interesting what the Police said. I wonder if its the same gang that were operating in that Ibiza thread?

[Langnam]

Originally Posted by StevieWatch

The point is any large city is a magnet for crime. Rome is notorious for pickpockets. Madeira and the Azores is nothing like a large capital city such as Lisbon. My family live there and have told me pickpocketing is very common on the metro in Lisbon. Your opinion is not helpful for anyone!

I spent over a week in Lisbon before moving on to the rest of the country.

I stand by my statement. No one cares about your Rolex in Portugal.


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[bayerische]

Barcelona is a wasp nest these days!