In just 17 days, three watch stores were robbed, raising questions about why luxury watches have become a form of "hard currency" in an otherwise sluggish economic climate. Amid these incidents, the value of high-end timepieces seems to be rising—not just in terms of price, but in their perceived worth as targets for theft.
**Yesterday (March 17)**, a masked man armed with a toy gun robbed a Cartier store located in Beijing’s Wangfujing Crown Plaza, Macau Center. He tied up a female staff member and stole 11 high-end watches valued at approximately 3 million yuan before being captured within 20 minutes.
**On March 12**, a robbery occurred at a watch shop on Peking Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. A man armed with a real gun entered the store, seized nine Patek Philippe watches worth around HK$5.5 million, and shot a clerk during the incident. The staff member was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment. The case is still under investigation.
**On March 1**, at 7:30 PM, masked men robbed a Vacheron Constantin store in Shenzhen’s Vientiane City. Fortunately, the clerk quickly recognized the thieves' intentions and managed to escape and alert the police. The robbers fled without success, and the police are now investigating the incident.
Looking further back, **on November 3, 2008**, a middle-aged man robbed a Meihua Watch Shop on Xinhua North Road in Urumqi, using a fake gun to steal a few watches.
**On September 15, 2002**, three men with a northeastern accent robbed a "Hengdeli" store in Linyi, Shandong, stealing 107 branded watches including Rolex, Longines, and Omega, with a total value exceeding 500,000 yuan.
**On August 7, 2008**, two masked individuals robbed a Chow Sang Sang Bank in Pok Pau, taking gold chains and watches worth 240,000 yuan.
**On July 26, 1997**, just before Hong Kong's handover, a masked gunman robbed a Chow Sang Sang Bank in Chung On Street, Tsuen Wan, looting over 600,000 Hong Kong dollars in watches.
**In November 1996**, four gunmen robbed a gold shop on Temple Street, stealing more than 800,000 Hong Kong dollars in watches. During the confrontation, four officers were injured, and one robber was killed.
**From 1991 to 1992**, notorious Hong Kong underworld figure Yeh Huan was responsible for multiple high-profile robberies, seizing millions in gold and watches. The police issued a reward of 1 million yuan for his capture.
**On October 4, 2013**, a group of 15 masked individuals armed with iron axes robbed the Vacheron Constantin store in the heart of Paris, stealing over 20 high-value watches. Though two suspects were arrested, many watches were still stolen, valued in millions of euros.
**On December 5, 2013**, a jewelry store in Paris was robbed, with a single watch valued at RMB 6,644,500 taken. The thieves remain at large.
Also on that same day, a watch shop near the Cannes Film Festival in France was robbed. Two masked criminals used a pistol and hand grenades to steal over 40 expensive watches. This marked the second time the store had been targeted—previously, on February 21, 2013, dozens of watches were stolen.
While these crimes may seem isolated, they highlight a growing trend of high-value item thefts, especially in major cities. It’s important for consumers to be cautious when purchasing watches or other luxury items. Always buy through official channels, as each watch has a unique serial number that is recorded globally. If the origin is unclear, it can be difficult to verify authenticity and may lead to legal issues.
Additionally, watches involved in theft often lack proper documentation, making them unsuitable for resale. Purchasing stolen goods not only puts your rights at risk but could also make you complicit in a crime. According to Article 312 of China’s Criminal Law, knowingly acquiring or selling stolen property can result in imprisonment, fines, or detention. If you're unsure about the source, you must prove your innocence.
Always stay informed and protect yourself from falling victim to such schemes.
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