Luxury Watch Thefts Rise on the Côte d’Azur
In 2024, thieves stole luxury watches worth over €8 million in the Alpes-Maritimes region alone, highlighting an alarming increase in such crimes. The modus operandi frequently involves thorough surveillance, swift and sometimes violent attacks, followed by quick escapes on scooters into the hills.
Targeting Individuals and Shops Alike
Both pedestrians and specialized watch stores are frequent targets. Monaco, previously protected by an extensive CCTV network, has seen a spike in such incidents with two notable robberies in 2024.
High-Profile Heists in Monaco
- On 29 May, Monaco Watch Company suffered an armed robbery lasting six minutes, resulting in theft of watches valued at over €4 million.
- On 12 November, The Watch Project experienced a brief raid where four watches were stolen within minutes.
Thefts Beyond Retail Stores
- In April, American tennis player Sebastian Korda was assaulted and had his €300,000 Richard Mille watch stolen in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.
- In late August, a student from Nice tried to exchange a counterfeit Rolex for a genuine watch worth €48,000 at the Hôtel de Paris. He was arrested at Place du Casino and sentenced to four months in prison.
"The Principality suffered two high-profile heists in 2024."
These incidents illustrate a trend of increasingly bold and costly watch thefts impacting the region’s reputation and safety.
Summary: The Côte d’Azur faces a surge in luxury watch robberies with organized, rapid strikes stealing millions, affecting both stores and individuals in Monaco and surrounding areas.