Four Spanish nationals arrested in Saint-Tropez for luxury watch theft

Four Spanish nationals have been arrested in the Cogolin area near Saint-Tropez following the theft of a luxury watch valued at approximately $300,000 (€261,000) from a Brazilian tourist. The theft occurred on a Friday in the popular French Riviera resort. The suspects reportedly fled in a vehicle before being apprehended by authorities following a chase through the winding roads of the Saint-Tropez gulf.

The stolen watch was successfully recovered and returned to its owner. This incident is part of a broader trend of organized thefts targeting wealthy tourists on the Côte d'Azur; authorities report that approximately 15 luxury watches have been stolen since the start of the summer season.

To combat this surge in high-value thefts, the Gassin-Saint-Tropez gendarmerie has been reinforced by a detachment from the Central Office for the Fight against Itinerant Delinquency (OCLDI). So far this season, eight arrests have been made in connection with four of the reported watch thefts.