The end of wearing an expensive watch

Shabbaz · Jul 5, 2022

After the umpteenth serious robbery on a crowded terrace, I have decided to be very reluctant wearing expensive watches - especially Rolex - when I go out or if I go into the city at all.
It is also discouraged by the police because of this new
phenomenon which is maybe caused by corona (more home workers so less home roberies).

I grew up in the city. So I can estimate the risks of the city well. I've even been a criminal defense attorney. So I think I can really say that it is really no longer responsible.

Newspaper articles regularly appear about brutal robberies (see link and picture), which are specifically aimed at watch wearers.

It's a pity, but so be it. Somehow it's not that weird. If I sit on a full terrace with 10k openly on the table, you won't be surprised if you get robbed. Unfortunately that is the world we live in.

It does raise the question of whether I should not adjust my collection. For I have no use for watches that collect dust.

M'Bob · Jul 5, 2022

Sorry that happened. Sad state of affairs.

Dan S · Jul 5, 2022

That's an incredibly brazen crime. I guess there is widespread concern about violent crime around the world. Still, I think that vintage watches other than Rolex should be fairly safe.

Duracuir1 · Jul 5, 2022

This on the Canadian Watch Collectors site today. Stolen North of Toronto. I guess I will stick to my inexpensive and unsellable pieces and avoid being robbed.

And I agree that if you are not going to wear the $10 000 watch, why keep it

Scarecrow Boat · Jul 5, 2022

Found this while reading the news story. The victim threw a chair at the robber, which hit another restaurant patron in the face, breaking her front teeth and requiring her chin to get stitched up.

Scary to see the robber brazenly approach like that.

https://www.parool.nl/amsterdam/rolexrover-zet-pistool-op-hoofd-gast-terras-beethovenstraat~b6751505/?utm_source=link&utm_medium=app&utm_campaign=shared content&utm_content=free&referrer=https://omegaforums.net/

Link Translated
"A robber put a gun to the head of a guest of Ferilli's restaurant in Beethovenstraat last Friday. "He said give me your watch or I'll shoot you in the head."

Wouter Laumans3 July 2022, 18:12
The robbery took place just before 11 a.m. Friday. An entrepreneur was sitting on the terrace of restaurant Ferilli's in Beethovenstraat with three others when a man with a hoodie on his head walked over to the table. He grabbed the entrepreneur by the neck and put a gun to his head. “It seemed like a next level film,” says the startled entrepreneur. "He said, 'Give me your watch or I'll shoot you in the head.' I heard the gun click a few times."

The robbery failed. Video images that are now circulating on Whatsapp show the robber hitting his victim on the head a few times. In the ensuing struggle, the entrepreneur managed to break free. He then threw a chair at the fleeing robber. It ended up in the face of a woman who was also sitting on the terrace. She broke two front teeth and had to have her chin stitched up in the hospital.

“I find it very annoying for her,” the entrepreneur says.

sleeves rolled up
The robber was after his steel Rolex. The entrepreneur does not know how the robber knew he was wearing such a watch. “I had messed something up earlier that evening, so I rolled up my sleeves.”

Expensive watches have been a popular object of robbers for a while. In 2020, a violent gang that preyed on expensive Rolex watches was sentenced to five years in prison.

The entrepreneur knew about the risks of wearing an expensive watch. “Because there are more people on that terrace with expensive watches, I thought it was possible.” He hadn't expected to get a firearm on his head. "I've learned my lesson. From now on I will sit on the terrace with an Apple Watch. If you still wear an expensive watch in Amsterdam, you are tired of life.”

Restaurant Ferilli's declined to comment on the event on Sunday afternoon. It is the restaurant's second violent incident in a few years. Four years ago, a customer of the restaurant on the terrace was liquidated.

The police have the matter under investigation."

Shabbaz · Jul 5, 2022

Yes. It's not that crime rates have gone up. On the contrary, these have been declining for years. I don't feel unsafe at all in my own city. However, these specific crimes - stealing expensive watches - have arisen recently, so we - city dwellers - will have to adapt to them.

Rochete · Jul 5, 2022

Sad but true. It's happening everyday here. Now I'm even refraining from wearing cheap gold-plated vintage watches, lest anyone should mistake it for gold and make a move.

Hetcins1 · Jul 5, 2022

Shocking news ,my daughters boyfriend's dad had his Pepsi rolex pulled off his wrist in a controlled attack in spain a couple of months ago it caused damage to his wrist and hand luckily he was insured , assholes.

motivated · Jul 5, 2022

For unskilled criminals, stealing a Rolex from a random stranger is probably the easiest way to score a quick $10k.

jantjewgm · Jul 5, 2022

I’ve read is, terrible. Its a shame you can’t wear the watch you like without being in danger

gbesq · Jul 5, 2022

Yet another reason in my view to avoid Rolex. That being said, I don’t wear any expensive watch in an urban public setting, no matter what the brand, and never when I travel.

Shabbaz · Jul 5, 2022

motivated
For unskilled criminals, stealing a Rolex from a random stranger is probably the easiest way to score a quick $10k.

Yes. That's the problem.

gbesq · Jul 5, 2022

motivated
For unskilled criminals, stealing a Rolex from a random stranger is probably the easiest way to score a quick $10k.

With a high probability of being injured in the process. What a world. 🙁

Larry S · Jul 5, 2022

How pathetic. I'd have clocked the MF. What are we sheep? I don't wear my Rolex(s) anywhere but the burbs.

gbesq · Jul 5, 2022

Larry S
How pathetic. I'd have clocked the MF. What are we sheep? I don't wear my Rolex(s) anywhere but the burbs.

With a gun pointed at your head?

Mark020 · Jul 5, 2022

The maths work for them I'm afraid. Relatively easy, high proceeds, low chance to get caught and mostly low sentences. I live in Amsterdam as well and haven't worn a Rolex in 2-3 years I think. Don't even wear my Autavia GMT's since a kid of friend thought is was a Rolex. The Tudor 76100 from mrs is in the vault as well.

noelekal · Jul 5, 2022

Larry S
How pathetic. I'd have clocked the MF. What are we sheep? I don't wear my Rolex(s) anywhere but the burbs.

gbesq
With a gun pointed at your head?

In some locales that can work both ways though.

Sadly, this won't play well here on the Omega Forum, but when our collective "sheeple" attitude doesn't protect us then we may be assured of having all of the crime that we are willing to put up with. What is needed is some "starch in our collective drawers." I'm with Larry S.

Old photo, but the essential equipment remains the same or similar. Discrete, concealed carry is legal here in Texas. There is very little of that sort of nonsense here except in certain "armpit" areas within the state, areas that most thoughtful people avoid.

Shabbaz · Jul 5, 2022

noelekal
In some locales that can work both ways though.

Sadly, this won't play well here on the Omega Forum, but when our collective "sheeple" attitude doesn't protect us then we may be assured of having all of the crime that we are willing to put up with. What is needed is some "starch in our collective drawers." I'm with Larry S.

Old photo, but the essential equipment remains the same or similar. Discrete, concealed carry is legal here in Texas. There is very little of that sort of nonsense here except in certain "armpit" areas within the state, areas that most thoughtful people avoid.

I'm afraid wearing guns in the Netherlands is not allowed as you know. But maybe we
can scare the robber off with a spoon or fork.

perks713 · Jul 5, 2022

noelekal
Discrete, concealed carry is legal here in Texas. There is very little of that sort of nonsense here

What we really needed is for that guy to pull out his gun as the robber was running away and fire off a few shots at the guy... into a crowded restaurant... 🤨

YY77 · Jul 5, 2022

Shabbaz
I'm afraid wearing guns in the Netherlands is not allowed as you know. But maybe we
can scare the robber off with a spoon or fork.

Why not scare them away with our wooden clogs.😜

The end of wearing an expensive watch

Shabbaz

M'Bob

Dan S

Duracuir1

Scarecrow Boat

Shabbaz

Rochete

Hetcins1

motivated

jantjewgm

gbesq

Shabbaz

gbesq

Larry S

gbesq

Mark020

noelekal

Shabbaz

perks713

YY77

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