I got mugged for my watch in London!
Discussion
I wonder how many people get mugged for their watch when it's either a fake or a "homage" that isn't worth a great deal, I have had favourable comments about my Orient; it only cost circa £100.00, however at a glance it could be considered to be an expensive watch to the uninitiated and worth nicking?
Surfr said:
Sorry to hear that.
I lost a Planet Ocean and an iPhone to 1 or 2 muggers in Brussels 2 weeks back. I was fortunate enough to be well oiled at the time so details are hazy at best but I got bruised ribs, a sprained shoulder and some cuts and bruises on my left hand where I tried to grip the watch as they removed it.
In retrospect, I must have looked a right target. I was probably visibly drunk. Walking down tiny dark alley-like roads following google maps on my phone at 2AM. I only had 500m to go from venue to hotel but that was plenty of time to be jumped. Whether or not they marked me prior, I have no idea. I'd been wearing a baggy hoodie all night and the watch was never on show. I suspect they were going for the phone and got lucky with the watch.
Similar happened to me in Manchester at 2am a couple of years back. I lost a Planet Ocean and an iPhone to 1 or 2 muggers in Brussels 2 weeks back. I was fortunate enough to be well oiled at the time so details are hazy at best but I got bruised ribs, a sprained shoulder and some cuts and bruises on my left hand where I tried to grip the watch as they removed it.
In retrospect, I must have looked a right target. I was probably visibly drunk. Walking down tiny dark alley-like roads following google maps on my phone at 2AM. I only had 500m to go from venue to hotel but that was plenty of time to be jumped. Whether or not they marked me prior, I have no idea. I'd been wearing a baggy hoodie all night and the watch was never on show. I suspect they were going for the phone and got lucky with the watch.
Smallish Philippino chap approached me outside a bar pretended to be drunk and celebrating the day’s footy score with giving me a hug.
He probably thought I was drunk too, but let’s say I was in a state of high alertness.
Felt my Planet Ocean at my knuckle, and immediately spread my fingers and thumb, and whacked his hand a few times, didn’t work so he got one on his nose too. He legged it and got a kick up the ass in his way off too.
Looking back, I was very lucky and anything could have happened to me.
Me and the mrs have always just said give anything up.
An insured life doesn’t replace like-for-like.
Glad you are ok OP, and hope you will feel like you can continue to wear a nice timepiece
Sounds like purely bad luck and wrong place wrong time and ironically I think this sort of thing is more likely to happen in a smart part of town than not, as the folks doing it will know what they're looking for and there will be more marks about than the s
tty areas...
Statistically London pretty safe I should think, never had an issue myself. And I live in the middle of plenty of dodgy areas. But as said above, I doubt your average South London gang member knows much about watches...
tty areas...Statistically London pretty safe I should think, never had an issue myself. And I live in the middle of plenty of dodgy areas. But as said above, I doubt your average South London gang member knows much about watches...
Nickbrapp said:
Well, what does a Rolex or other fancy brand offer you over what a Fitbit or even a £20 Casio would do? Yes I know you can apply it’s a nicer product here, but people don’t get mugged for their barbor jacket or M&S food shop anywhere near as much as they do for a expensive flashy watch which I assume is only worn to display wealth and most likely one upmanship on your fellow stock broker.
Watches are easily stolen and I assume since it happens so much easily moved on.
Not much of a fan of watches then?Watches are easily stolen and I assume since it happens so much easily moved on.
Errum your description reads like a fantasy novel.
It the weirdest bit of prose I can remember reading. You have apparently been in a scary situation and been the subject of a violent crime, but you spend your paragraph name dropping famous brands like some sort of bizarre lifestyle advert.
Try to concentrate on the serious stuff. Nobody cares what type of watch you were wearing or what type of jacket. The important thing, if this is real, is that you are okay.
It the weirdest bit of prose I can remember reading. You have apparently been in a scary situation and been the subject of a violent crime, but you spend your paragraph name dropping famous brands like some sort of bizarre lifestyle advert.
Try to concentrate on the serious stuff. Nobody cares what type of watch you were wearing or what type of jacket. The important thing, if this is real, is that you are okay.
Surfr said:
I lost a Planet Ocean and an iPhone to 1 or 2 muggers in Brussels 2 weeks back. I was fortunate enough to be well oiled at the time so details are hazy at best but I got bruised ribs, a sprained shoulder and some cuts and bruises on my left hand where I tried to grip the watch as they removed it.
Wow! I just realised what it could have been. Me and the Mrs were strolling in the back streets of Brussels a few years back. A couple of blokes approached us and asked us about changing currency or something like that. Then the next thing we knew 2 armed police officers jumped out of the middle of nowhere and asked us to go on our way. We did just that sharpish and left them talking to the 2 blokes. julian64 said:
Errum your description reads like a fantasy novel.
It the weirdest bit of prose I can remember reading. You have apparently been in a scary situation and been the subject of a violent crime, but you spend your paragraph name dropping famous brands like some sort of bizarre lifestyle advert.
Try to concentrate on the serious stuff. Nobody cares what type of watch you were wearing or what type of jacket. The important thing, if this is real, is that you are okay.
I absolutely 100% believe the OP completely on everything he says, and he has my utmost sympathies for what has happened. No decent human like the OP deserves to be robbed or attacked in any way.It the weirdest bit of prose I can remember reading. You have apparently been in a scary situation and been the subject of a violent crime, but you spend your paragraph name dropping famous brands like some sort of bizarre lifestyle advert.
Try to concentrate on the serious stuff. Nobody cares what type of watch you were wearing or what type of jacket. The important thing, if this is real, is that you are okay.
However, upon re-reading it, I find my self in slight agreement about the terms used.
The bit that made me almost spit my tea out in amusement was when he made sure to write ‘exclusive members club’ before ‘Home House’.
It is unfortunate, because the ludicrous nature of the OP’s description actually detracts from the seriousness of what happened to him, and makes it sound like a joke letter you would read in Private Eye.
I cannot stress enough that no one cares in the slightest if you were on your way to Home House, despite you insisting it is ‘exclusive’. Literally no one. Half the people in this thread have probably been in there.
But once again, my sympathies. I hope you get the watch back and that you never experience anything like that again.
Lord Marylebone said:
I absolutely 100% believe the OP completely on everything he says, and he has my utmost sympathies for what has happened. No decent human like the OP deserves to be robbed or attacked in any way.
However, upon re-reading it, I find my self in slight agreement about the terms used.
The bit that made me almost spit my tea out in amusement was when he made sure to write ‘exclusive members club’ before ‘Home House’.
It is unfortunate, because the ludicrous nature of the OP’s description actually detracts from the seriousness of what happened to him, and makes it sound like a joke letter you would read in Private Eye.
I cannot stress enough that no one cares in the slightest if you were on your way to Home House, despite you insisting it is ‘exclusive’. Literally no one. Half the people in this thread have probably been in there.
But once again, my sympathies. I hope you get the watch back and that you never experience anything like that again.
Agree with yurself & julian, it seemed as it was all a bit tedious for the Op...I'd have been in shck for about a week!!However, upon re-reading it, I find my self in slight agreement about the terms used.
The bit that made me almost spit my tea out in amusement was when he made sure to write ‘exclusive members club’ before ‘Home House’.
It is unfortunate, because the ludicrous nature of the OP’s description actually detracts from the seriousness of what happened to him, and makes it sound like a joke letter you would read in Private Eye.
I cannot stress enough that no one cares in the slightest if you were on your way to Home House, despite you insisting it is ‘exclusive’. Literally no one. Half the people in this thread have probably been in there.
But once again, my sympathies. I hope you get the watch back and that you never experience anything like that again.
But as has been said at least he is in good health , although no doubt mentally a bit shaken.
okgo said:
Of the tens of thousands of people wearing expensive watches in London, this is pretty rare. If true.
I wouldn't let it worry me, and indeed I shan't.
Working on Crossrail I get to visit some very dodgy areas of London, bulletproof vest and gumshield would be better than the Rolex. I wouldn't let it worry me, and indeed I shan't.
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