Police issue CCTV in hunt for Rolex pickpocketing gang who stole £5,000 watch from wrist of victim after stopping him to ask for directions
- Rolex Air King watch with sentimental value stolen from man in Tunbridge Wells
- Two women distracted the victim by asking for directions, Kent Police say
Police have issued CCTV in the hunt for a pickpocketing gang who stole a sentimental Rolex watch from a man’s wrist after they stopped him to ask for directions.
The Rolex Air King worth around £5,000 was stolen from the man after he was distracted by two women in The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in a horror daylight robbery.
Police said the women asked the victim for directions, reportedly speaking to him in ‘foreign languages’ and suggesting they couldn’t communicate in English.
The man, in his 50s, provided the pair with directions before one of the women grasped his wrist and started shaking his hand, bringing it to her chest in an apparent outburst of gratitude.
But moments later the victim realised his watch, which was given to him by his late father, was missing from his wrist and the suspects had vanished.
CCTV images have been issued by detectives investigating a Rolex robbery in Tunbridge Wells
The watch was stolen from a man in The Pantiles at around 12.25pm on Tuesday 10 January 2023 – CCTV images released by detectives investigating
It is believed they may have got into a car being driven by an associate.
Detectives investigating the robbery have now released CCTV images of the three people they would like to speak to following the incident at around 12.25pm on Tuesday, January 10.
Kent Police believe that the suspects could have targeted others in the area.
DS Rachel Howson of West Kent CID said: ‘It is likely that the suspects have targeted other potential victims in and around the Tunbridge Wells area and we are urging anyone who may have noticed anything suspicious to contact us.
‘The watch stolen in this instance is of huge sentimental value to the victim as it belonged to his late father.
‘It is described as a Rolex Air-King and bears the serial number 160 Y297696.
‘I would urge anyone with information to call our appeals line on 01622 604100, quoting reference 46/6560/23.’
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or by using the online form on their website.
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