Robbed in a FTF sale of Seadweller SD4K in Los Angeles

[Atone]

I went this afternoon to meet a potential buyer at a bank in Marina Del Rey Ca and the buyer while sitting next to me in the bank grabbed just the watch and ran from the bank. I ran after him but was in motorcycle boots and slipped in a sharp turn. Police were called and a case opened. They have his images on bank cameras and a license plate as I followed him to a car where his friend was waiting. I doubt I’ll ever see the watch again but need some suggestions . . .


I don’t want to get into what should have or could have been but rather learn how to put the word out about the stolen serial number. Any help is greatly appreciated. The warranty card with serial is pictured. I still have box and cards, only the watch was taken. This was not a TRF member.

[MattyL147]

Wow. Sorry to hear! I would’ve thought that would’ve been a safe meeting spot; clearly not. Hopefully with the pictures and license plate they’ll get him!

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by MattyL147

Wow. Sorry to hear! I would’ve thought that would’ve been a safe meeting spot; clearly not. Hopefully with the pictures and license plate they’ll get him!

Agree with everything you wrote

[Geckobros]

No "should of could of" here, you were in a bank, wow. Sorry this happened to you and hopefully they will catch the guy.

[watchmaker]

Originally Posted by Geckobros

No "should of could of" here, you were in a bank, wow. Sorry this happened to you and hopefully they will catch the guy.

Unfortunately conducting a deal in a bank isn’t a guarantee of safety. It’s not their responsibility ultimately.

This is why so many ADs no longer get involved in assisting with private sales. There’s nothing it it for them when it goes well, and when it goes wrong people think ‘it should have been safe in an AD’.

[Geckobros]

Originally Posted by watchmaker

Unfortunately conducting a deal in a bank isn’t a guarantee of safety. It’s not their responsibility ultimately.

This is why so many ADs no longer get involved in assisting with private sales. There’s nothing it it for them when it goes well, and when it goes wrong people think ‘it should have been safe in an AD’.

Agreed, there is no guarantee of safety anywhere, only varying levels and I would have thought a transaction in a bank would be one of those less risky environments. How brazen a criminal has to be to steal where there is surely many cameras and possibly an armed security guard is the "wow factor" for me.

As far as AD's "hosting deals", you are correct, there is nothing in it for the AD. If I was an AD owner, I certainly wouldn't knowingly host a transaction from a liability standpoint alone regardless if there was monetary gain for my business.

The main thing is the OP was not injured or worse.. With a license plate as well as security footage hopefully the perp will be caught quickly. Anyone that is able to commit a crime like this is capable of something more serious and it is only a matter of time before they move to the next level.

[Chewbacca]

Crap!

Type out the serial number in full so SEO can pick it up. Use words like stolen, model number, the bank name, time date city etc... join other forums and start a thread on it simply saying its an FYI so they don't buy stolen goods and post on local Caigs and Kijiji. Report to rolex too.

[Grissom]

Very sorry to hear this. File a police report and with that in hand drive over to the Rolex Service Center in Beverly Hills and ask them how to have the serial number input into their stolen data base. As this type of crime usually ends with the watch shipped out of the country usually that same day, ask Rolex how to see that the serial number is input throughout “their” world so that should it ever show up for service at any Rolex Service Center it would be held and ultimately returned. You might also see what, if any, coverage you might have through your homeowners insurance policy. Good luck!

PS......If I were you, I might also inquire from Interpol if there was any way to get that into foreign law enforcement data bases, as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[daveswordfish]

OMG..so sorry to hear this. Posting on TRF and WUS is a great start. Maybe reach out to Chrono24 and WatchRecon as well. The more people that are aware the better.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Cloudchaser]

Wow. So sorry to hear that this happened to you. As someone who does F2F deals in L.A. on the regular (and almost always at banks), this is downright frightening. Damn. Wild west type stuff..

I wish I had a good recommendation for you. Hope you're not too sore from the fall!

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Atone

I went this afternoon to meet a potential buyer at a bank in Marina Del Rey Ca and the buyer while sitting next to me in the bank grabbed just the watch and ran from the bank. I ran after him but was in motorcycle boots and slipped in a sharp turn. Police were called and a case opened. They have his images on bank cameras and a license plate as I followed him to a car where his friend was waiting. I doubt I’ll ever see the watch again but need some suggestions . . .


I don’t want to get into what should have or could have been but rather learn how to put the word out about the stolen serial number. Any help is greatly appreciated. The warranty card with serial is pictured. I still have box and cards, only the watch was taken. This was not a TRF member.

[TheWatchmen]

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=620506

If its registered to you, and Rolex knows that - it will be returned if someone tries to get it serviced by Rolex...other than the police nabbing this POS, and him still having the watch, I'm sorry brother but your chances of getting it back are slim.

Fingers crossed for you, sometimes I really hate people.

[Duey]

Sorry that sucks.
One more reason not to do a FTF.

On the last watch I had up everybody wanted to do a FTF but when I told them that they would have to bring cash with them to the bank, no transfer, and that we would verify the cash before they could see the watch. I said it had to be safe for both parties. All of the potential buyers who wanted the FTF only seemed to vanish ...

[No SUBctitute]

Originally Posted by Duey

Sorry that sucks.
One more reason not to do a FTF.

On the last watch I had up everybody wanted to do a FTF but when I told them that they would have to bring cash with them to the bank, no transfer, and that we would verify the cash before they could see the watch. I said it had to be safe for both parties. All of the potential buyers who wanted the FTF only seemed to vanish ...

I guess that begs the question. What is the safest way to conduct a transaction online and what are the pitfalls? Is there anything that's almost failsafe?

Or if you do a FTF what is the best way to do it?

[bonovox]

Very sorry to hear about this. Hope a positive outcome follows.

[peterpl]

Ballsy yet very very stupid of the robber. You were in a bank and he robbed you inside there? What a effin idiot.

They will get him for sure.

[JD305]

Have to do
FTF at police station


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LuminousMaximus]

This guy is just begging to be locked up forever...

[4 Aussies]

Originally Posted by JD305

Have to do
FTF at police station


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sorry to hear. I agree!!

[MSchu]

Just horrible... grand theft is a hell of a thing.

[AS1]

Wow... so sorry to hear.

[PepsiBezel]

I’d be hopeful that with the leads the police can track down the criminal.

You could also look at hiring a private detective and build a civil suit.

I think this capacity is interesting for a known license plate:

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/n...te-readers-drn

[michaelodonnell123]

Originally Posted by HarryFlashman

I’d be hopeful that with the leads the police can track down the criminal.

You could also look at hiring a private detective and build a civil suit.

I think this capacity is interesting for a known license plate:

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/n...te-readers-drn

A civil suit against whom? Rolex? The bank? The town? Lol....

[PepsiBezel]

Originally Posted by michaelodonnell123

A civil suit against whom? Rolex? The bank? The town? Lol....

The dude who stole the watch...

[mountainjogger]

Originally Posted by HarryFlashman

The dude who stole the watch...

Worth nothing. Your odds of collecting even the cost of the filing fee are less than Mr. Slim and Mr. None.

[42itus]

That’s horrible. I’m glad you weren’t harmed. I’m sorry I can’t give you advice. Blast that serial number on the internet so that it shows up as stolen.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[hectorlopez]

Also post his license plate number. There may be some people on here that will be willing to help you out.

[037]

Crazy. Also glad you weren't hurt. If the watch was insured then call your insurance company immediately.

[Atone]

Thx for the kind words guys. To say it was a rattling experience is an understatement. I will follow your advice on blasting the serial number online. I am not hopeful to actually recover the watch but should do what I can in the event it ever surfaces.

[jaisonline]

Very sorry to hear.

I hope the thief & driver get what they deserve and maybe you’ll get lucky with the watch bring returned.

[kieselguhr]

Ouch. All that criminal bravado for ~$13,000. First and foremost, I am glad you are okay and the crim didn’t resort to violence to get the watch. It really sucks you had to go through this. At the very least, I hope the watch is insured.

Did you happen to get a picture of his ID with your phone before or during the transaction?