With increased local armed robberies, I’m no longer wearing Rolexes

watchyouwant · Sep 14, 2022

STANDY
Northern Australia is good day, night, anytime…..more crocodiles than people. No one cares about time up here…fishing gear is a bit sketchy as it is the number one thing stolen.

THAT is the description of Paradise. Inhabited by intelligent people , because fishing gear is more important for survival than a time device. With the exception of Crocodiles, same here in North NSW. Many Divers still wear Watches ; the rest might ask you, why you wear a Watch, when you have your Mobile....

janice&fred · Sep 14, 2022

MTROIS
normal people like us absolutely need to hand over our watch

In my late 20's I was shot point blank in the upper chest for resisting a mugging in a Yale parking lot. I didn't lose a watch then but if it happens again when I'm wearing a watch I like the perp can have it with my blessings. As a side note that past experience hasn't really changed my watch-wearing habits at all. I don't even think about it as much as I probably should. Maybe I'm just thick-headed.

savka · Sep 14, 2022

janice&fred
In my late 20's I was shot point blank in the upper chest for resisting a mugging in a Yale parking lot. I didn't lose a watch then but if it happens again when I'm wearing a watch I like the perp can have it with my blessings. As a side note that past experience hasn't really changed my watch-wearing habits at all. I don't even think about it as much as I probably should. Maybe I'm just thick-headed.

Or you have a decent grasp of probability 👍

gbesq · Sep 14, 2022

What your average mugger does with your expensive Swiss timepiece …

omegawatchlover · Sep 14, 2022

Dang, this is a long thread. Yeah I heard lots of stories about robberies in SF. I mean, your Rolex are neovintage so idk why you should have to worry. They steal modern Rolex or maybe I’m not aware lol. Have you sold your watches yet? What are your prices? Happy to take them 😀. If you aren’t wearing them, what’s the point really… store them like safe queens?

Shabbaz · Sep 15, 2022

ext1
Could we share our experiences with cities in general here? Would be great to be able to check before heading somewhere. So far I've been learning through this thread that Netherlands could get a lot sketchier than I thought.

No no. The Netherlands are totally safe. Amsterdam as well. But we had some problems here with watch thieves which made the news a couple of times. But chances that something will happen are minimal. But for me personally. in summer time I'm not going to sit with short sleeves on a terras with a rolex on. Even if the chances are minimal, why would you take them. It's like sitting on a terras and put 10k money bills on the table and then be surprised that you got robbed.

Mark020 · Sep 15, 2022

Amsterdam is definitely not safe anymore to wear an expensive watch...

Chachi · Sep 15, 2022

airansun
Well, it’s finally happened. I’ve stopped wearing Rolexes.

In my local area (SF Bay Area), there’ve been at least five reported armed robberies of Rolexes every week. Some are ‘follow homes’, others are parking lot confrontations or sidewalk hold ups. Occasionally, people have been robbed while eating at restaurants, or waiting in their cars at stop lights. Typically, three or four individuals confront the victim(s) with guns. Although actual shootings are still rare, pistol whippings are the common result of any resistance. The news media all specifically identify Rolexes as the targeted watches, but none are more specific about which references.

I have no idea how much such these thieves know about watches, let alone vintage watches. I know that those Rolex crowns at the top of the dial can be particularly easy to spot. And certainly, I have no interest in risking being a victim of a violent crime simply because of the watch I’m wearing. As well, I hate being self-conscious and anxious because of what’s on my wrist. I’d be mortified to lose one of my favorites.

I assume that because chronographs can be so easy to spot, any Omega Speedmaster might be a target too.

So, instead, I’m wearing these two, which is no hardship to me. Both recent acquisitions, I love looking at them.

(I am a notorious black dial freak.)

I hate this development, but it’s not foreign to me, having grown up riding 1970’s NYC subways daily. Still, it sucks.

Anyone else put their Rolexes away due to the recent trend?

Nice collection there, and the IWC and Omega are still great watches to wear on a daily basis!

Walrus · Sep 15, 2022

ext1
Could we share our experiences with cities in general here? Would be great to be able to check before heading somewhere. So far I've been learning through this thread that Netherlands could get a lot sketchier than I thought.

I'll start- there are just my experiences and I can't comment further than what I've experienced. Some people might have had a different experience in the same place, and I could be wrong.

Japan- from my experiences, Tokyo is safe at daytime. I ran around with a 1675 or 69 speedy. But when it got to night I've been told Shinjuku or Akiba can get sketchy so I wasn't really around at night, and if I were I was just wearing a vintage Hamilton. Kyoto and Osaka I went around at daytime with a ST1. Not much happening. But at night I didn't risk it.

Korea- Seoul is safe at day and night. I've been told certain areas in Seoul could get sketchy at night, especially the west parts. I haven't ventured there at night to find out. But also, yes crime does happen rarely around the east areas too, it's not like crime rate is zero. But a little common sense would help you to keep you out. Obviously though as others have said, luck is a huge factor and it just might happen to you (sh1t happens)

UAE- I was out in Abu Dhabi at day and night with a SM300 nodate, 5513. I had no problems, presumably because of the government's strict laws on theft, but also I didn't get looks as much as I did in other places with the SM300 there. I got the feeling people didn't know 5513 there too.

US- NYC I get the feeling that certain parts of Manhattan are pretty safe at day and night but I wasn't out with a Rolex. Just a speedy once in a while. Once I was in upper Brooklyn photographing through late night but that time was winter and I had a Hamilton under my wrist. Luckily it passed, was it just luck or awareness etc, not sure. I haven't been at other areas of NYC at night to find out. Most of the time at daytime I was out with a Hamilton. Other people would be more qualified to comment here..

Other places of mention. When I was travelling Egypt and Uzbekistan with my SM300 I got the feeling people didn't really know what I was wearing. Maybe if I was wearing a Rolex it would have been different.. but to be fair this was fall/winter and it was always under sleeves.

I largely agree that most of it is luck/chances but also that you can always help yourself to not let it get to 100% chance of getting robbed. In general though after writing this all out I think I was pretty lucky. Seems like I was a pretty dumb person doing all this.

You got me thinking of the bund in Shanghai at the water front where you can look out over the water and see the pearl of the orient. It’s a notorious theft area for wallets, rings, watches etc but no strong arm or weapons one moment you have them the next they are gone. The thief’s there are subtle and highly skilled I saw a tourist get picked (after the fact I was just in the area when they realized they were picked) they probably like to target westerners but the native Chinese I was with secured their belongings.

Twocats · Sep 16, 2022

Wryfox
Thankfully I don't look like the kind of guy who has any money. I look more like the guy who would ask for money.

+1

blubarb · Sep 16, 2022

Evitzee
In 1982 my wife and I made a stop in Copenhagen and we planned on going to Tivoli Gardens. We mentioned that to a saleswoman in a watch/jewelry store and she cautioned us on theft, she told my wife to turn her engagement ring 180 deg so the diamond was not visible. That was 40 years ago, street crime is nothing new.

Yup. I hear about it everyday but I don't see it everyday...in fact never. I live downunder where the average crook is less threatening than your average suburban croc. 😁 It is well known that the Aussie croc will gnaw at your arm to get at that vintage Rolex..especially if it spots an exotic leather strap. In general, our crooks prefer not to gnaw at a victim's wrist without appropriate and adequate notice as required under law, unless they are in the small (but growing) group that identify as cis s/he croc crooks.

gbesq · Sep 16, 2022

I would think that being a thief in the US is a dangerous business since the vast majority of potential victims own guns and many states permit concealed carry so you never know who is armed and who isn’t. I don’t own or carry a gun, but I sure know a lot of people who do. It’s gotten beyond crazy when you see signs stating “No Firearms Or Weapons Permitted On This Property” posted on entrances to shopping malls, movie theaters, restaurants, etc. and people wonder why the US has the highest rate of gun violence among “civilized” nations. There’s nothing very civilized about it. I have no problem with gun ownership for hunting, but beyond that I just don’t know. Not a political rant and not looking to start a flame war. Simply my observation that being a thief in the US could easily get you more than you bargained for.

pdxleaf · Sep 16, 2022

gbesq
I would think that being a thief in the US is a dangerous business since the vast majority of potential victims own guns and many states permit concealed carry so you never know who is armed and who isn’t. I don’t own or carry a gun, but I sure know a lot of people who do. It’s gotten beyond crazy when you see signs stating “No Firearms Or Weapons Permitted On This Property” posted on entrances to shopping malls, movie theaters, restaurants, etc. and people wonder why the US has the highest rate of gun violence among “civilized” nations. There’s nothing very civilized about it. I have no problem with gun ownership for hunting, but beyond that I just don’t know. Not a political rant and not looking to start a flame war. Simply my observation that being a thief in the US could easily get you more than you bargained for.

Drivers are more dangerous than thieves (armed road rage)

gbesq · Sep 16, 2022

pdxleaf
Drivers are more dangerous than thieves (armed road rage)

That too!

JwRosenthal · Sep 16, 2022

pdxleaf
Drivers are more dangerous than thieves (armed road rage)

I also remember (as mentioned before) the armed road rage craze in Los Angeles back in the early 90’s- you really thought twice before merging in front of someone on the freeway. And carry wasn’t even legal there!

Larry S · Sep 16, 2022

Walrus
You got me thinking of the bund in Shanghai at the water front where you can look out over the water and see the pearl of the orient. It’s a notorious theft area for wallets, rings, watches etc but no strong arm or weapons one moment you have them the next they are gone. The thief’s there are subtle and highly skilled I saw a tourist get picked (after the fact I was just in the area when they realized they were picked) they probably like to target westerners but the native Chinese I was with secured their belongings.

Almost got mugged in a shoe shine scam walking back to my hotel late afternoon. Not a safe place despite appearances. Cost me 20 RMB to get the crowd of miscreants off my back.

stonestone · Sep 16, 2022

Hong Kong: very safe for watch wearers. Less so for watch shops.
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong...-police-arrest-six-suspects-over-luxury-watch
https://today.line.me/hk/v2/article/VGvpm5

Omegafanman · Sep 17, 2022

I saw this story in the news today. The gangs haul included a £70k watch.

Police in Marseille are attempting to track down more than 100 first-class train passengers from around the world who had their luggage or wallets stolen by a gang whose leader would disguise himself in wigs.When a woman leaving a high-speed train at Aix-en-Provence station earlier this year reported to police that her bag containing €50,000 of jewellery had disappeared during the journey, station CCTV footage led to a months-long investigation. Police discovered what they called an experienced operation by three thieves regularly targeting first-class carriages on high-speed trains.“They were perfectly organised,” the local police chief, David Brugère, told a press conference in Marseille.

The last big watch purchase I made was in Leeds. I took a roundabout route to the station so I knew I was not followed. I travelled cattle class and the watch was in a supermarket bag. If you flaunt wealth and are ostentatious at the wrong times you may well attract criminal attention - especially these days. If the item is a high enough value they will even plan and travel to obtain it. That has always been the case to some degree and changes with economic pressure and police levels. We did have a Rolex theft near us recently A guy was mugged by three men when getting out of his car to go to a restaurant. I suspect he was a regular there and was spotted with the watch. Having made a booking, people knew his movements in advance. I think a UK comedian was targeted on a school run a few years back - again the time and place was predictable in advance and from TV appearances people knew what he had.
With planning, good awareness and some common sense you can still enjoy your watches. Pre lockdown I walked across cites such as Amsterdam, Berlin, Dublin and London in the early hours many times - usually the worse for wear and with a DSOTM. If it I had been in short sleeves and wearing a gold Rolex that may have attracted some trouble.

Turpinr · Sep 17, 2022

Omegafanman
I saw this story in the news today. The gangs haul included a £70k watch.

Police in Marseille are attempting to track down more than 100 first-class train passengers from around the world who had their luggage or wallets stolen by a gang whose leader would disguise himself in wigs.When a woman leaving a high-speed train at Aix-en-Provence station earlier this year reported to police that her bag containing €50,000 of jewellery had disappeared during the journey, station CCTV footage led to a months-long investigation. Police discovered what they called an experienced operation by three thieves regularly targeting first-class carriages on high-speed trains.“They were perfectly organised,” the local police chief, David Brugère, told a press conference in Marseille.

The last big watch purchase I made was in Leeds. I took a roundabout route to the station so I knew I was not followed. I travelled cattle class and the watch was in a supermarket bag. If you flaunt wealth and are ostentatious at the wrong times you may well attract criminal attention - especially these days. If the item is a high enough value they will even plan and travel to obtain it. That has always been the case to some degree and changes with economic pressure and police levels. We did have a Rolex theft near us recently A guy was mugged by three men when getting out of his car to go to a restaurant. I suspect he was a regular there and was spotted with the watch. Having made a booking, people knew his movements in advance. I think a UK comedian was targeted on a school run a few years back - again the time and place was predictable in advance and from TV appearances people knew what he had.
With planning, good awareness and some common sense you can still enjoy your watches. Pre lockdown I walked across cites such as Amsterdam, Berlin, Dublin and London in the early hours many times - usually the worse for wear and with a DSOTM. If it I had been in short sleeves and wearing a gold Rolex that may have attracted some trouble.

I made 2 purchases from D M Robinson in Manchester and on both occasions after being plied with Veuve Clicquot my missus and I left with watches in supermarket carrier bags.
I bought one in Lancaster which is a totally different kettle of fish as far as cities go and even managed to park nearby.
I try and avoid cities though usually

Larry S · Sep 17, 2022

gbesq
I would think that being a thief in the US is a dangerous business since the vast majority of potential victims own guns and many states permit concealed carry so you never know who is armed and who isn’t. I don’t own or carry a gun, but I sure know a lot of people who do. It’s gotten beyond crazy when you see signs stating “No Firearms Or Weapons Permitted On This Property” posted on entrances to shopping malls, movie theaters, restaurants, etc. and people wonder why the US has the highest rate of gun violence among “civilized” nations. There’s nothing very civilized about it. I have no problem with gun ownership for hunting, but beyond that I just don’t know. Not a political rant and not looking to start a flame war. Simply my observation that being a thief in the US could easily get you more than you bargained for.

Doors of our office had the guns sign go on when the open carry madness began.. I was hosting a global meeting and my wonderfully acerbic German colleague just locked eyes with me and gave me one of her classic “really?” looks. I think of her every time I see the decal.