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Luxury watch thefts targeting tourists in Southern Europe

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2026-08-10 02:16 UTC → 2026-08-28 11:33 UTC · added ~~removed~~

A series of high-value luxury watch thefts has been reported targeting tourists in Southern Europe. In Lisbon, a couple was physically assaulted and pepper-sprayed by three individuals in a vehicle with Spanish license plates, resulting in the theft of a Patek Philippe watch valued at approximately 90,000 euros. On the French Riviera, authorities have intensified efforts to combat a trend of organized thefts. Following the theft of a luxury timepiece valued at approximately $300,000 (€261,000) from a Brazilian tourist in Saint-Tropez, four Spanish nationals were arrested in the Cogolin area after a vehicle pursuit through the Saint-Tropez gulf. The stolen watch was recovered and returned to the owner. Local gendarmerie report that approximately 15 luxury watches have been stolen this summer. To address the surge, the Gassin-Saint-Tropez gendarmerie has been reinforced by a specialized detachment from the Central Office for the Fight against Itinerant Delinquency (OCLDI). To date this season, eight arrests have been made in connection with four of the reported watch thefts. In Portugal, authorities are investigating an organized group known as the ‘Rolex gang’ for targeting luxury items including watches, gold chains, and rings. In a recent robbery near Lisbon Airport, two assailants on motorcycles used a knife and a firearm to steal Rolex watches and jewelry valued at approximately €100,000 from a BMW. One suspect, a Brazilian national, died following a motorcycle collision during a pursuit. Additionally, tourists in Albufeira were targeted in a robbery involving firearms, resulting in the theft of mobile phones and a watch.

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