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© 2019 AFPThief steals $840,000 watch from Japanese man's wrist in Paris
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© 2019 AFP
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gaijinkurd
Seems this young man is more successful at 30 yrs old than most people will be in their lifetime. Hope he gets the watch back or had good insurance for it.
Pukey2
Thanks but no thanks. I'll stick to either my cheap CASIO watch or basic smartwatch. I'll never understand the 'joys' of wearing a really expensive watch. I'd rather use my money for meals in a nice restaurant, or holidays, or gifts for relatives. To each his own.
GrungeHamster
Robbed? In Paris? Well I am shocked and appalled. /s
Do the hustle
If somebody wants to steal my 1st generation Apple Watch they are welcome to it.
How does a 30 year old guy have enough money to buy a 3/4 of a million dollar watch? Then, he gets it stolen? It would seem he has more money than sense.
Toshihiro
I guess he learned his lesson and would be keeping watch next time
Mahmood Hassan
That is so sad.
theFu
People should be allowed to stand on a public street without fear of being robbed. Doesn't matter if they have $20 or $2M.
I've given up knowing how people got money at any age.
kohakuebisu
Thieves within about five meters, that is.
I shall never have this dilemma, but is the correct way to wear an expensive watch not to cover it with a jacket or shirt sleeve? Should it be on display at all times?
oldman_13
Dumb enough to wear a watch that is worth 100 times more than what many people around the world have in their life savings.
marcels
Time and time again, we hear about these tourists predominantly, Japanese getting robbed, credit card fraud etc, you never know who’s watching, probably at the second hand shop now, whoever stole it needs a good slap on the wrist..time for a new watch...
commanteer
The same reason people buy expensive art. They appreciate the skill and craftsmanship that goes into, the beauty of it. Best of all, if they need money down the line they can sell it for what they paid or even at a profit - so they can enjoy wearing it for a while and it may cost them nothing in the end. Can't do that with a Casio or a meal in a restaurant.
The thief, though, will only get a tiny fraction of its value. Everybody will know the watch is stolen, and any respected watchmaker who is asked to fix or maintain it will report it if they see it. So whoever buys it will have to deal with that.
timeon
As I was seated on the terrace of a restaurant in Paris, the moment I tried to put my bag on the chair next to me the waiter came running to me and advised me not to do that, because many clients got theirs snatched. It is sad that many touristic destinations in Europe have become dirt holes cloaking with thieves
Nobnaga
in Paris i wouldn't even wear a 50c watch lol
Eppee
While visting Paris, wear your crappiest clothing and accessories. It's even more relevant if you're an Asian tourist somehow ...
Norman Goodman
So the foolish man with the grossly overpriced watch on the street was unharmed? I support the thief.
Ah_so
Well, each to their own. I have just googled this brand and they are incredibly vulgar and I suspect people are more attracted by the price rather than some vague excuse about the mastery of the workings. Ostentatious displays of wealth are never attractive, so I think the robber has done him a favour.
commanteer
If you say so... Rich people buy Van Gogh paintings to show off their wealth as well. That doesn't mean Van Gogh paintings are ugly or not worth the money. It's a stunning watch, with incredible craftsmanship. And things like this are generally worth what people are willing to pay for them.
To my mind, paying a million dollars for just about anything that is not essential is vulgar. But it's still a work of art timepiece.
ushosh123
Just like any other watch robbery. Everything is relative.
WilliB
Educator:
In todays Paris?? LOL.... keep on dreaming. The young naive guy should be glad he was not injured.
commanteer
You can be sure he is living on borrowed time:)
theFu
Did anyone tell the man that a $6 watch keeps time just as well, if not better? He was snookered.
WA4TKG
Lol...do people still wear those?
mmwkdw
Some of the really "Old-school" Wealthy in Japan, don't draw attention to themselves by simply dressing down, but never-the-less, are well dressed.
New-Wealth, well that's another matter, and shares the same "look-at-me" syndrome globally, so naturally they get picked off first.
bob91343
I chuckled at this. I can mention why. First, the victim smokes cigarettes, a very stupid thing to do in light of all the facts available. Second, he spends a ridiculous amount of money on a gewgaw that has no intrinsic value other than it tells time, which can be found more accurately elsewhere. Third, he is not careful in public and could have had a serious injury from a stranger coveting his property.
Having said all that, it certainly is a jungle out there. People will grab anything that isn't nailed down, and many things that are. The longer I live, the less I respect people. They are not, as the saying goes, basically honest. They are basically opportunists, and in many cases try to create their own opportunities.
And finally, how can this thief expect to sell this item without getting discovered? Who would buy it knowing the world is aware it's stolen? Unless of course he wanted it for himself but even then, to whom could he safely show it?
I shake my head sadly at the stupidity of mankind.
Reese
Where do you pawn a $840K watch? Sheesh....
Just marked Paris off my bucket list.
doel jusino
Not the kind of watch you take on vacation with you. Silly tourist ..... Ha Ha Ha