Marbella Plagued by Rolex Robberies
Marbella continues to be a hotspot for gangs targeting Rolex watches, with two incidents reported within a 24-hour span last weekend. The thefts occurred in broad daylight on the streets, leaving one victim, a man with a walking stick, in need of medical attention. Police have launched two investigations into these incidents, both of which took place on Avenida Manolete.
Violent Assault on Tourist
The first incident occurred on the afternoon of Friday, 17 May. The victim, a tourist, was reportedly attacked by at least two individuals who made off with his watch as soon as they had it in their possession. The stolen watch is estimated to be worth around 20,000 euros. The assailants also allegedly made off with the man’s wallet, which contained a significant amount of cash. Local police arrived at the scene after receiving a distress call and found the victim bruised. The man reported that he was caught off guard while walking with his stick and was knocked to the ground during the struggle.
Second Theft in Less Than 24 Hours
Less than 24 hours later, on the morning of Saturday, 18 May, police were alerted to another theft. Another man’s Rolex watch was snatched from him as he walked along the same street, Avenida Manolete. The thieves managed to escape through the throngs of people.
Police Taskforce Responds to High-End Watch Thefts
The surge in high-end watch thefts in Marbella prompted the formation of a special taskforce in the summer of 2022. This team is part of the specialised and violent crime unit (UDEV) of the Marbella police station. However, these two incidents were not the only thefts reported last weekend. In the early hours of Sunday, a luxury home was burgled and several valuable items were stolen. Among the stolen items was another Rolex watch. The National Police are currently investigating this incident.
