Rolex Stolen off my wrist in Barcelona
Discussion
Chaps
I thought I would post a general warning on here about Barcelona and the skilful theft of my Rolex Submariner last week.
My colleague and I were walking from the Casino to Hotel Arts. At that time of night there were the usual collection of peddlers, hookers and beggars hanging around. On the bridge just by Bestial there were three street performers jumping about, back flipping and whooping.
Without warning a small one landed on me, steadying his fall on my wrist. The watch was gone and so was he, my colleague didn’t even notice.
I doubled back and waited for them to resume position. I challenged them but they split up and ran off down the beach. Unfortunately no Police around. I probably shouldn’t have done that… let’s say I was a little cross.
I think of myself as street aware, but this level of artful dodger’ness was quite impressive… how did they undo the double locking clasp? I did not feel a thing.
So if you are out and about in that area, be super aware.
I am looking for a replacement, so if any pistonheads want to sell their 16610, PM me.
Map below
I thought I would post a general warning on here about Barcelona and the skilful theft of my Rolex Submariner last week.
My colleague and I were walking from the Casino to Hotel Arts. At that time of night there were the usual collection of peddlers, hookers and beggars hanging around. On the bridge just by Bestial there were three street performers jumping about, back flipping and whooping.
Without warning a small one landed on me, steadying his fall on my wrist. The watch was gone and so was he, my colleague didn’t even notice.
I doubled back and waited for them to resume position. I challenged them but they split up and ran off down the beach. Unfortunately no Police around. I probably shouldn’t have done that… let’s say I was a little cross.
I think of myself as street aware, but this level of artful dodger’ness was quite impressive… how did they undo the double locking clasp? I did not feel a thing.
So if you are out and about in that area, be super aware.
I am looking for a replacement, so if any pistonheads want to sell their 16610, PM me.
Map below
Edited by AndrewCrown on Monday 10th October 18:36
Thanks for all your replies guys...
This afternoon I emailed every used watch dealer I could find with a website in Barcelona...
I had an amazing response ...promises to circulate the serial number...apologies that visitors had to put up with this..
It's a bit hope on hope, but one never knows.
This afternoon I emailed every used watch dealer I could find with a website in Barcelona...
I had an amazing response ...promises to circulate the serial number...apologies that visitors had to put up with this..
It's a bit hope on hope, but one never knows.
vsonix said:
Tell you what though, as being a 'victim of crime' goes, I'd much rather get my s
t rinsed by a skillful 'fingersmith' than have someone threaten to jab a knife in me unless I hand over my last 20 quid, which is how it tends to go down in London.
True enough Vsonix...it's what the Mrs said...I wasn't hurt..plenty people have, for a lot lot lesst rinsed by a skillful 'fingersmith' than have someone threaten to jab a knife in me unless I hand over my last 20 quid, which is how it tends to go down in London. Edited by AndrewCrown on Tuesday 11th October 15:16
Chaps... Thank you for making this thread interesting...
A few comments on wallets...on that night,my right hand was jammed in my right trouser pocket holding tightly onto my Secrid wallet and a sizable sum of Euros from the casino... I think I'd rather have had that side done!
I take one or two cards out and leaving one or two emergency cards in the hotel safe. I think I may now buy a sacrificial Steinhart for foreign trips.
I had some consolation from a work colleague who had lived in Barcelona for 15 years, she outlined... everyone she knows has been a victim in Barcelona.
A few comments on wallets...on that night,my right hand was jammed in my right trouser pocket holding tightly onto my Secrid wallet and a sizable sum of Euros from the casino... I think I'd rather have had that side done!
I take one or two cards out and leaving one or two emergency cards in the hotel safe. I think I may now buy a sacrificial Steinhart for foreign trips.
I had some consolation from a work colleague who had lived in Barcelona for 15 years, she outlined... everyone she knows has been a victim in Barcelona.
Ayahuasca said:
AndrewCrown said:
On the bridge just by Bestial there were three street performers jumping about, back flipping and whooping.
Without warning a small one landed on me, steadying his fall on my wrist. The watch was gone and so was he
Are you sure they stole your watch? I have a Sea Dweller which is more or less the same as a Sub, and the crim would have to open the small hinge, then open the main hinge, then slip it off my wrist. Seems extraordinarily difficult. Without warning a small one landed on me, steadying his fall on my wrist. The watch was gone and so was he
Are you sure one of the bracelet pins didn't just slip out and let the watch fall from your wrist? That happened to my Omega Seamaster, the thing just dropped from my wrist. . Luckily I heard it crash to the marble mall floor, but on a busy street, at night, not sure I would have heard it.
Lord Marylebone said:
Frank7 said:
I couldn’t help but agree with this, particularly the bit about buying something and then not wearing it, although I grant you, my Titan is not much thicker than 2 razor blades, and I wouldn’t wear anything resembling a Rolex anyway.
Reading the subsequent posts, I began to question my own judgement, but I eventually decided that I agreed with jdw after all.
I just don't see the point in practally inviting a robbery.Reading the subsequent posts, I began to question my own judgement, but I eventually decided that I agreed with jdw after all.
We all like wearing our watches. But what does it matter if you don't wear your watch for a few days here and there throughout a year while away somewhere?
A Rolex (or similar) is MASSIVELY more attractive to criminals than a phone, a camera, or a couple of hundred dollars in a wallet.
A phone these days is practically worthless.
They might get lucky with a camera if it's worth a few hundred, but less people carry cameras these days, using phones instead for photos.
Any sensible tourist/traveller will only carry a few hundred pounds worth of the local currency at any one time, and leave the cards and the rest in the hotel safe.
So an expensive watch is by far and away the big prize. Even punted on cheaply it will still yield a hefty payday.
The top and bottom if it is, I don't want any holiday or trip away spoiled by a robbery.
I certainly don't want to have waste a day sitting in a foreign police station just so I can report the crime and get a crime number, to then spend however many weeks arguing with an insurance company to get the money back.
The watches also have much more value to me than just the financial value.
A phone is a disposable item, as is my wallet with a couple of hundred quid in it. Thieves can have my phone, no problem. I'll just block it remotely the same day and go and buy another one.
On telephones, I was informed by the Barcelona Police that the pickpockets are after the Sim cards, which they immediately put to work on premium telephone lines their gang own. In the time between noticing one's phone is stolen and being able to block it, the gangs can rack up huge bills to their benefit. Of course some phones will be more secure than others...
To this day I still feel oddly lucky that it was stolen through sleight of hand and not by more violent means. This incident won't put me off wearing a decent watch, as this was one incident in 16 years.
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