Major theft on vintage and modern Watches: calling all forum members.

Tom Dick · Sep 16, 2018

Spoke with Tony this morning, no more news unfortunately. Sounds like the broke in, scoped it out then came back after the police had left and ripped the safe out the wall and took it with them! Horrendous

He’s preparing a list of what’s gone today and will give me some images of the stuff the community might instantly recognise so I will post some more stuff for him later

Thanks from Tony for everyone’s thoughts and wishes

Tom Dick · Sep 16, 2018

Here is the first batch of stuff to have gone, the stuff I know fellow forum members will spot easily

Tom Dick · Sep 16, 2018

And more

bdp · Sep 16, 2018

How terrible. I hope they are recovered and my thoughts go out to Tony.
Those who have dealt with him know what a great guy he is.
For what its worth I will keep an eye out in Australia.
Hope the forum can help.

jimmyd13 · Sep 16, 2018

Tom Dick
And more

@Tom Dick the photos will help but, particularly with things like the datejust and the 145.022's, are there any serial numbers available? Also, I'm not sure where these were taken from but given the fact that I've seen notifications from you and others in our area, were these taken from the Midlands?

I'm just heading out of the door and going to see two dealers ... I'll make sure they're aware of the theft if they're not already.

Tom Dick · Sep 16, 2018

Thanks chaps

Serial numbers to follow, tony is just trying to pull them all together now. This is only a small proportion of the Watches gone but these are amongst the most destinctive and obvious, especially here on the community around speedmaster.

The Watches where stolen from Cheshire/ glossop

Thanks Tom

STANDY · Sep 16, 2018

Hope the burglary guys know about his buy back guarantee.........

guaranteed.rohu · Sep 16, 2018

thats terrible, sorry to hear hopefully it's found and manage to get recovered.

At least any internet sales will be easy to track for the more valuable pieces. they'd really have to sold in person in a far flung country without any listing online, to be untraced

Professor · Sep 16, 2018

Either stashed in a fence's anonymous storage bin or already smuggled out of the country.
Best bet is if one of the thieves decided to pinch one for themself and gets caught with it.

Trashing the place is usually an attempt to make a professional job appear to be the work of amateurs. This increases the number of suspects by several orders of magnitude and slows down the investigation.

Chye · Sep 16, 2018

Tom Dick
...Sounds like the broke in, scoped it out then came back after the police had left and ripped the safe out the wall and took it with them!...s

Sorry to hear, really hope they are insured and they catch the thieves.
As I understand from the above, the thieves broke in, left, the police came in, and the thieves then came back again and this time got away with the safe?

many · Sep 16, 2018

Rman
... surprising that they had the sophistication to crack the safes.

All you need is time and power tools to crack a safe. I’ve heard about some surprisingly low tech ways to open safes, sledgehammers etc.

It looks like he lost some really fine pieces. I hope some of these turn up and he’s able to recover them.

Professor · Sep 16, 2018

many
All you need is time and power tools to crack a safe. I’ve heard about some surprisingly low tech ways to open safes, sledgehammers etc.

Its likely they took the safe to an old time pro who'll open it for a percentage of the take.
Since they have a good idea of the contents they'd want to be sure they don't damage the loot. Jewelry has intrinsic value even if damaged or melted down but a watch only has value if its reasonably intact.
A Rolex in fine condition is worth quiet a bit anywhere, a Rolex in need of expensive repairs has no street value to speak of for a Fence. Getting it repaired or restored would greatly increase the likelyhood of it being traced.

High end watches are often found in the possession of mid to high end drug dealers. They like their bling as a status symbol. They aren't as likely to sell it on, at least not for cash.

MauiSurfBrah · Sep 16, 2018

Tom Dick
And more

Bummer.🙁 Those are some pretty watches.

The Father · Sep 16, 2018

Ok now kinda makes sense. From the initial gibberish you would infer the criminals opened the safes on site. Taking the safes with them is a different story. Still getting them open will be a problem. Drilling? Better know where to drill or it won’t do you any good. Believe me it ain’t like TV. Sledgehammer isn’t getting you in any safe worth a shit. Those guys could still be beating on right now or they got open and destroyed everything in it in the process

Professor · Sep 16, 2018

The Father
Ok now kinda makes sense. From the initial gibberish you would infer the criminals opened the safes on site. Taking the safes with them is a different story. Still getting them open will be a problem. Drilling? Better know where to drill or it won’t do you any good. Believe me it ain’t like TV. Sledgehammer isn’t getting you in any safe worth a shit. Those guys could still be beating on right now or they got open and destroyed everything in it in the process

That's why I believe they took it to an old time pro.

Davidt · Sep 16, 2018

It's why safes should always be concreted into the floor.

Hopefully they're insured and will either get some money back or somewhere with locating the guys.

BlackTalon · Sep 16, 2018

Davidt
It's why safes should always be concreted into the floor.

Not sure what that means. But even if doweled in/ bolted it can be broken out, or the fasteners can be cut with a saw. Given enough time, it is definitely possible.

Davidt · Sep 16, 2018

BlackTalon
Not sure what that means. But even if doweled in/ bolted it can be broken out, or the fasteners can be cut with a saw. Given enough time, it is definitely possible.

I mean an actual hole dug in the floor, the safe sunk in and filled with concrete so the small opening is at floor level.

You aren't cutting or unbolting that. It needs a jack hammer and an hour or two to get it up, along with a huge amount of noise.

Anyway, I didn't mean to derail the thread and I hope there is a suitable resolution.

JohnSteed · Sep 16, 2018

So will dutifully report if any serials surface

Damn shame.

WatchVaultNYC · Sep 16, 2018

how big was that safe?