Hunting the Rolex Rippers

[Norman_Conquest]

Is anyone watching/watched this?

Frightening that you could be threatened in the middle of a London Street with a machete or a gun because some toe rag wants what you have worked hard for.

There is huge money to be made by these thieves.

What I don't get is, that the reporter tracked them down, why can't the police?

 

[Cogeur_le_Conq]

I've not watched this but surely a rollie without its certificate and service history isn't a Rolex.

Which mugs are buying them?

 

[Norman_Conquest]

I've not watched this but surely a rollie without its certificate and service history isn't a Rolex.

Which mugs are buying them?

There must be a market for them, the police reported that there were over 50,000 watches stolen last year.

 

[Fabiopaim]

Who walks around with the Rolex, and the certificate of authenticity?

 

[Sammysmiths]

Every Rolex is serial numbered, and on a register. If stolen, the number gets added to the register and any shop worth its salt won’t touch it. However, they will be bought and sold underground for well under market value.

 

[B_G]

Probably getting bonus balled or sold in the pub. They might get 3k for a 12k rolex but it really doesn't matter when you've paid nothing for it does it.

 

[Glover_elbow]

I wonder if anyone has been mugged for a snide rolex.

 

[RK8610]

I wonder if anyone has been mugged for a snide rolex.

There was a sad case I read not too long ago where someone was identified and stalked over the course of a evening at a high end party, in London. He was set upon when he left the venue for his high value watch, he was stabbed and killed, watch turned out to be a worthless fake.

 

[The_Lizards_Jumpers]

I wonder if anyone has been mugged for a snide rolex.

Probably, although the guys on the programme seemed pretty clued up about horology, and so they'd probably be able to tell when looking properly at it. The next big craze is apparently mugging you for your Canada Goose jacket (again there's a lot of fakes about) again using a knife.

My only saviing grace is that my big CG jacket covers my watch as I walk through London daily.

 

[Boro_Interlinked]

Is anyone watching/watched this?

Frightening that you could be threatened in the middle of a London Street with a machete or a gun because some toe rag wants what you have worked hard for.

There is huge money to be made by these thieves.

What I don't get is, that the reporter tracked them down, why can't the police?

The reporter put someting out there in social media. The guy was already waiting for trial having being arrested and charged. He fancied his time in that limelight I guess so responded to the reporter , who they eventually met

 

[hobblewobble]

I only buy Casio normally pay £25 to £30 but last year i went daft and bought a G shock for £80 with a £20 voucher.
Only thing goes wrong is straps break after a couple of years.
More than a £100 for a watch, give your head a shake.

 

[Norman_Conquest]

There is CCTV footage in the documentary of a guy being robbed of his watch and when he is approached by two lads on a scooter, one carrying a machete, his girlfriend believes it is going to be a Lee Rigby style execution. She steps up into a snicket and when she hears them drive off comes out expecting to find her partner beheaded. The woman collapses when she sees him.

A watch can be replaced, it is the trauma that these thieves cause that is the frightening part and lives with people forever.

 

[Boro_Interlinked]

i went daft and bought a G shock for £80 with a £20 voucher.

can you train me , how to do this please ?

 

[Glover_elbow]

Personally I don't think its worth risking your life by putting such a status symbol on your wrist.

 

[The_Lizards_Jumpers]

I only buy Casio normally pay £25 to £30 but last year i went daft and bought a G shock for £80 with a £20 voucher.
Only thing goes wrong is straps break after a couple of years.
More than a £100 for a watch, give your head a shake.

We've done this one before, plenty of people like different things to you - doesn't make you right and them wrong.

 

[The_Lizards_Jumpers]

Personally I don't think its worth risking your life by putting such a status symbol on your wrist.

Is it really "risking your life" ?

I spend c200 days a year in London with an expensive watch on my arm, and never had any trouble. The chance of encountering one of these people is minimal, especially when you consider how many people are walking around London at any one time with a expensive watch on their arm.

You're probably equally likely to get hit by a car or fall down an open man hole cover.

 

[Jonny Ingbar]

I've not watched this but surely a rollie without its certificate and service history isn't a Rolex.

Which mugs are buying them?

Exactly this.

If his around 90% of Rolex' you see in the wild are fake.

 

[Sheriff_John_Bunnell_ret]

I saw some of this. I was on the side of the robbers.

 

[Cogeur_le_Conq]

Probably, although the guys on the programme seemed pretty clued up about horology, and so they'd probably be able to tell when looking properly at it. The next big craze is apparently mugging you for your Canada Goose jacket (again there's a lot of fakes about) again using a knife.

My only saviing grace is that my big CG jacket covers my watch as I walk through London daily.

My Arc'teryx Macai ski Jacket and Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime are both obscured by the tinted windows of my Bentley Mulliner Bacalar when I drive around Whale Hill.

 

[Heam44]

I went to London with a mate, he was wearing the Rolex he bought on the beach in Benidorm couple years earlier. Couple lads pulled out some big machete / zombie knives.

Quick as a flash my mate unleashed a 2 punch combo. Both hit the deck. Teeth and claret everywhere.

I couldn’t believe it.

My mate then turned to me and started banging on about electric cars and SUV’s! Then he gave me a few betting tips.

Not one came in!