Luxury Watch Thefts Surge on the Côte d’Azur
In 2024, the Alpes-Maritimes region alone experienced luxury watch thefts exceeding €8 million in value. Thieves carry out detailed surveillance before striking quickly, sometimes violently, then escape on scooters into nearby hills. Both pedestrians and specialist shops are common targets.
Incidents in Monaco
Monaco, historically protected by a dense CCTV network, has also faced significant thefts in 2024. On May 29, the Monaco Watch Company suffered a six-minute armed robbery with over €4 million worth of watches stolen. Later, on November 12, The Watch Project was raided, resulting in the loss of four watches within minutes.
Thefts Beyond Stores
- In April, American tennis player Sebastian Korda was robbed of a €300,000 Richard Mille watch in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin after being forcibly pushed to the ground by two masked assailants.
- In August, a student from Nice attempted to exchange a counterfeit Rolex for a genuine one valued at €48,000 at the Hôtel de Paris. He was caught near Place du Casino and sentenced to four months in prison.
“Monaco, long spared from snatch thefts thanks to its dense network of CCTV cameras, is no longer immune: the Principality suffered two high-profile heists in 2024.”
These escalating thefts highlight increasing risks for luxury watch owners on the Côte d’Azur.
Author's summary: Luxury watch thefts have sharply increased in Côte d’Azur in 2024, with violent, swift robberies targeting individuals and shops, including notable incidents in Monaco.