I got mugged for my watch in London!
Discussion
Lord Marylebone said:
r159 said:
You can watch the event Paul Thorpe’s YouTube channel
It was very interesting, and scary, to watch that.Extremely interesting to see in detail how these thieves operate. Awful to think that any of us could have an organised gang following for half an hour and you would never know. They even all have phone earpieces in to communicate at all times while following you in relays.
parakitaMol. said:
Pothole said:
These suspects will be nicked eventually. There are regular follow ups on the many, many suspects with wanted markers against them on PNC and local intel systems and they could also get a pull for something entirely unrelated but all will be revealed when their ID is established on arrest or at custody.
Identified, markers placed, raided, ended up in court (for something else). Am SO glad I 'guessed' he must have been followed in Selfridges prior to being robbed, and called their security team. Selfridges were ace and took it very seriously, gave the Police excellent high quality footage (which identified a 3rd member of the gang as well as the 2 who robbed my husband. The Police were ace (although they didn't laugh when my husband asked if he could go on the raid)
. Even during lockdown we were kept up to speed. No complaints at all. ZesPak said:
Lord Marylebone said:
r159 said:
You can watch the event Paul Thorpe’s YouTube channel
It was very interesting, and scary, to watch that.Extremely interesting to see in detail how these thieves operate. Awful to think that any of us could have an organised gang following for half an hour and you would never know. They even all have phone earpieces in to communicate at all times while following you in relays.
This weekend I picked up a couple of watches on new Bond St and was very aware of having £xxK of uninsured items (one was a surprise purchase so not able to pre-insure) on me along with a highly visible branded jeweller's bag. I'd definitely consider taking along a less conspicuous bag in the future. The jeweller very kindly and proactively provided travel cases which, reading between the lines, meant popping the actual watches into inside jacket pockets.
I've seen the same travel case/bag process when buying in Hatton Garden as well.
My GF thought I was nuts in how I was behaving in getting us back to the car as quickly and on as many main streets as possible and depriving her of a visit to a certain dep't store's food store with a jeweller's bag in-tow.
The highly visible private security on N Bond St does provide some relief but obviously they're not effective if you're followed for 30 mins off the street.
gibsonfender said:
ZesPak said:
Lord Marylebone said:
r159 said:
You can watch the event Paul Thorpe’s YouTube channel
It was very interesting, and scary, to watch that.Extremely interesting to see in detail how these thieves operate. Awful to think that any of us could have an organised gang following for half an hour and you would never know. They even all have phone earpieces in to communicate at all times while following you in relays.
This weekend I picked up a couple of watches on new Bond St and was very aware of having £xxK of uninsured items (one was a surprise purchase so not able to pre-insure) on me along with a highly visible branded jeweller's bag. I'd definitely consider taking along a less conspicuous bag in the future. The jeweller very kindly and proactively provided travel cases which, reading between the lines, meant popping the actual watches into inside jacket pockets.
I've seen the same travel case/bag process when buying in Hatton Garden as well.
My GF thought I was nuts in how I was behaving in getting us back to the car as quickly and on as many main streets as possible and depriving her of a visit to a certain dep't store's food store with a jeweller's bag in-tow.
The highly visible private security on N Bond St does provide some relief but obviously they're not effective if you're followed for 30 mins off the street.
One dealer gave me a Rolex in a bank coin bag to go in my pocket and a Sainsbury's carrier bag for the box. I looked for all the world like Angelos Epithemiou as I left Hatton Garden.
gibsonfender said:
It is incredibly concerning how professional these teams are and it's interesting to see how retailers are reacting. Excellent response from Selfridges on something that's incredibly hard for them to police.
This weekend I picked up a couple of watches on new Bond St and was very aware of having £xxK of uninsured items (one was a surprise purchase so not able to pre-insure) on me along with a highly visible branded jeweller's bag. I'd definitely consider taking along a less conspicuous bag in the future. The jeweller very kindly and proactively provided travel cases which, reading between the lines, meant popping the actual watches into inside jacket pockets.
I've seen the same travel case/bag process when buying in Hatton Garden as well.
My GF thought I was nuts in how I was behaving in getting us back to the car as quickly and on as many main streets as possible and depriving her of a visit to a certain dep't store's food store with a jeweller's bag in-tow.
The highly visible private security on N Bond St does provide some relief but obviously they're not effective if you're followed for 30 mins off the street.
I always think it’s total and utter madness when a shop like a jewellers or an electronics retailer gives you a branded bag to walk out with.This weekend I picked up a couple of watches on new Bond St and was very aware of having £xxK of uninsured items (one was a surprise purchase so not able to pre-insure) on me along with a highly visible branded jeweller's bag. I'd definitely consider taking along a less conspicuous bag in the future. The jeweller very kindly and proactively provided travel cases which, reading between the lines, meant popping the actual watches into inside jacket pockets.
I've seen the same travel case/bag process when buying in Hatton Garden as well.
My GF thought I was nuts in how I was behaving in getting us back to the car as quickly and on as many main streets as possible and depriving her of a visit to a certain dep't store's food store with a jeweller's bag in-tow.
The highly visible private security on N Bond St does provide some relief but obviously they're not effective if you're followed for 30 mins off the street.
Similar thing happened to me last weekend. Went to the Apple store, my wife chose a new phone, I bought an iPad Pro and a also got battery case for my phone while I was there.
So we are then walking down the street with almost £2K of electronics is a massive carrier bag emblazoned with the Apple logo. I felt incredibly uneasy and just expected to get robbed at any second.
I too got the stuff back to the car as quickly as possible.
There were some dodgy looking types lurking in St.James Square last time I went to the Rolex offices - I figure they were clocking people coming out of the doors. I had a cheap watch on and the nice one in a zip case in an inside pocket - crazy to wear a decent watch in London now. Got to admit I legged it pretty quick - literally ran away. It's unbelievable to think you have to do this in London nowadays.
Lord Marylebone said:
I always think it’s total and utter madness when a shop like a jewellers or an electronics retailer gives you a branded bag to walk out with.
Similar thing happened to me last weekend. Went to the Apple store, my wife chose a new phone, I bought an iPad Pro and a also got battery case for my phone while I was there.
So we are then walking down the street with almost £2K of electronics is a massive carrier bag emblazoned with the Apple logo. I felt incredibly uneasy and just expected to get robbed at any second.
I too got the stuff back to the car as quickly as possible.
Sorry but that’s a ridiculous overreaction. Millions of people buy and walk around with expensive stuff in London & other cities every day. Similar thing happened to me last weekend. Went to the Apple store, my wife chose a new phone, I bought an iPad Pro and a also got battery case for my phone while I was there.
So we are then walking down the street with almost £2K of electronics is a massive carrier bag emblazoned with the Apple logo. I felt incredibly uneasy and just expected to get robbed at any second.
I too got the stuff back to the car as quickly as possible.
The op was very unlucky to be targeted.
bad company said:
Lord Marylebone said:
I always think it’s total and utter madness when a shop like a jewellers or an electronics retailer gives you a branded bag to walk out with.
Similar thing happened to me last weekend. Went to the Apple store, my wife chose a new phone, I bought an iPad Pro and a also got battery case for my phone while I was there.
So we are then walking down the street with almost £2K of electronics is a massive carrier bag emblazoned with the Apple logo. I felt incredibly uneasy and just expected to get robbed at any second.
I too got the stuff back to the car as quickly as possible.
Sorry but that’s a ridiculous overreaction. Millions of people buy and walk around with expensive stuff in London & other cities every day. Similar thing happened to me last weekend. Went to the Apple store, my wife chose a new phone, I bought an iPad Pro and a also got battery case for my phone while I was there.
So we are then walking down the street with almost £2K of electronics is a massive carrier bag emblazoned with the Apple logo. I felt incredibly uneasy and just expected to get robbed at any second.
I too got the stuff back to the car as quickly as possible.
The op was very unlucky to be targeted.
Not in the market for expensive watches, my £200 Tissot tells the time, but when shopping for jewelry or tech we tent to have a battered supermarket carrier bag with us. An entry level i-phone in an apple carrier, or even in a Tesco Mobile paper carrier bag as ours were for a moment, can attract the wrong attention.
Only place we haven't was in the jewelry quarter in Birmingham which is (1) very close to a police station and (2) has plenty of private security around. Wife want's to go back to Bicknells for some anniversary that is coming up . . . .
Only place we haven't was in the jewelry quarter in Birmingham which is (1) very close to a police station and (2) has plenty of private security around. Wife want's to go back to Bicknells for some anniversary that is coming up . . . .
Louis Balfour said:
There would appear to be ample evidence that you're wrong about that.
Really. Perhaps you could show us to that evidence please?Of course crimes happen but not too often. Mrs BC wears 2 platinum diamond rings every day . Yes it ‘could’ cause a problem but not over the past 20 odd years. I wear a gold day/date Rolex.
No point having nice stuff if you can’t use or wear it.
Edited by bad company on Wednesday 2nd September 18:36
Edited by bad company on Wednesday 2nd September 18:40
bad company said:
Louis Balfour said:
There would appear to be ample evidence that you're wrong about that.
Really. Perhaps you could show us to that evidence please?Of course crimes happen but not too often. Mrs BC wears 2 platinum diamond rings every day . Yes it ‘could’ cause a problem but not over the past 20 odd years. I wear a gold day/date Rolex.
No point having nice stuff if you can’t use or wear it
Edited by bad company on Wednesday 2nd September 18:36
Edited by bad company on Wednesday 2nd September 18:40
Louis Balfour said:
bad company said:
Louis Balfour said:
There would appear to be ample evidence that you're wrong about that.
Really. Perhaps you could show us to that evidence please?Of course crimes happen but not too often. Mrs BC wears 2 platinum diamond rings every day . Yes it ‘could’ cause a problem but not over the past 20 odd years. I wear a gold day/date Rolex.
No point having nice stuff if you can’t use or wear it
Edited by bad company on Wednesday 2nd September 18:36
Edited by bad company on Wednesday 2nd September 18:40
Louis Balfour said:
bad company said:
Louis Balfour said:
There would appear to be ample evidence that you're wrong about that.
Really. Perhaps you could show us to that evidence please?Of course crimes happen but not too often. Mrs BC wears 2 platinum diamond rings every day . Yes it ‘could’ cause a problem but not over the past 20 odd years. I wear a gold day/date Rolex.
No point having nice stuff if you can’t use or wear it
Edited by bad company on Wednesday 2nd September 18:36
Edited by bad company on Wednesday 2nd September 18:40
CharlesdeGaulle said:
A cautionary tale has turned into a dick-measuring contest. Nice work chaps.
Not at all. The chap to whom I replied was seeking to diminish the message contained in the OP's post.I am merely giving him the opportunity to share his experience to back up his position.
According to the papers:
"The increased targeting of luxury watches by ruthless street robbers and smash and grab gangs has led to a dramatic rise in the number of stolen timepieces being registered with a crime prevention database.
The surge in thefts - which has seen more than £1m of watches stolen in central London in the first quarter of this year alone"
"The increased targeting of luxury watches by ruthless street robbers and smash and grab gangs has led to a dramatic rise in the number of stolen timepieces being registered with a crime prevention database.
The surge in thefts - which has seen more than £1m of watches stolen in central London in the first quarter of this year alone"
Louis Balfour said:
Pothole said:
Get some perspective.
Love to. Tell me about your experience dealing in high end watches in London and we'll compare it with mine. If yours exceeds mine and I have it all wrong I'll happily change my mind.
After you...
Pothole said:
Louis Balfour said:
Pothole said:
Get some perspective.
Love to. Tell me about your experience dealing in high end watches in London and we'll compare it with mine. If yours exceeds mine and I have it all wrong I'll happily change my mind.
After you...
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