Staggering 1,250 watches are swiped every month – as Raheem Sterling one of the victims | The Sun
WATCH thefts are soaring with 1,250 taken every month, data suggests.
More than 100,000 are likely to have been stolen since 2015 — including 15,000 last year.
Four in ten thefts occur in London, where watches worth £162million have been swiped in the past five years.
High-profile victims have included England footballer Raheem Sterling, Olympic cyclist Mark Cavendish and comedian Michael McIntyre.
Rolex is the luxury brand most likely to be swiped.
Gangs known as Rolex Rippers have used female honeytraps to target victims, while ride-by muggers on motorbikes have been reported in affluent areas.
read more on raheem sterling
Kids’ football is more than just physical activity, says Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling makes decision on Chelsea future amid Arsenal transfer rumours
The figures are extrapolated from crimes reported to 33 of the country’s 45 police forces.
They recorded a total of 11,035 thefts in 2022 — up 41 per cent on 7,821 on 2021.
The figure is likely to be 15,000 if all forces had provided data.
In London, 31,283 watches have been stolen since 2018.
Most read in The Sun
Millie Radford accuses mum-of-22 Sue of 'making money' out of her family
Ex-Cardiff footballer led out of son’s funeral in cuffs after killer crash
Khan banned from boxing for 2 YEARS after testing positive for illegal substance
Woman who believes she may be Maddie McCann finally receives DNA test results
Arjen van de Vall, from Watchfinder & Co, which compiled the stats, said: “It is disturbing to see the rate at which watch thefts have been rising.”
Source: Read Full Article