Luxury watches stolen in Monaco
On Wednesday September 20, an individual of Irish origin, aged around forty, appeared before the Monaco Correctional Court, facing seven counts of theft and one of attempted fraud.
The modus operandi was always the same. The man would travel to Monaco, entering the men’s changing rooms of luxury hotel spas using a day pass purchased locally under a false identity. Protected by surveillance cameras, he observed the codes used by customers for their lockers, which he stole a few minutes later.
The total amount stolen was 100,000 euros. The first crime took place on February 21, 2016 at the Fairmont, where he stole a Rolex and 200 euros from his first victim. The second theft took place on April 12, 2017 at the Monte-Carlo Bay, where he made off with a luxury watch, a Ferrari wallet and Ray-Ban glasses.
As the months went by, the crimes multiplied, ranging from the theft of 700 euros on November 25, 2017 at the Fairmont to that of Louis Vuitton suitcases and bags containing valuables, such as Dior glasses, an Armani coat, a Boucheron ring, and a Montblanc pen on March 24, 2018.
On October 26, 2018, he stole an 11,000-euro Rolex from the Thermes marins, as well as a credit card from a third party. The individual, who admitted the facts without contest, has been in custody since April 22, 2023, following his arrest in France on April 22, 2022 and extradition to Monaco on January 5, 2023.
Although the case was closed in Monaco in 2019 for lack of evidence, a similar case in Cap d’Ail in July 2021 rekindled the interest of the Monegasque authorities. The accused, known in Europe for this type of crime, has been incarcerated for several months in the past.
With the help of an interpreter, the accused explained to the magistrates that he had chosen Monaco because of its concentration of wealthy individuals, reselling stolen goods to support himself. Questioned by the president about his background as an engineer, he offered no explanation, but apologized to the two victims present in the room.
The prosecutor, underlining the complexity of the investigation, called for a severe penal response, proposing a sentence of four months’ imprisonment. The defendant’s lawyer highlighted her client’s difficult past, having lost his parents at a young age and gone through periods of instability, underlining nevertheless his exemplary behavior in custody. She also mentioned the defendant’s intention to make amends for his mistakes, even though he is currently insolvent.