French authorities arrested four Spaniards on Saturday for stealing a luxury watch valued at $300,000 from a Brazilian tourist in Saint-Tropez. The theft occurred on Friday in the famous resort town in southeastern France, which attracts an international clientele of celebrities, the super-wealthy, and tourists every summer.
According to the Var department gendarmerie, the Brazilian owner reported that the watch was worth $300,000, or approximately 261,000 euros. Following the arrest of the suspects, officers located the high-value timepiece and returned it to its owner.
Car Chase in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez
The four accused individuals allegedly fled in a vehicle immediately after the theft, prompting French law enforcement to launch a search operation across the region. According to the newspaper Nice Matin, a car chase ensued along the winding roads surrounding the Gulf of Saint-Tropez.
French authorities ultimately spotted and arrested the four suspects in the town of Cogolin, located a short distance from Saint-Tropez. Officers subsequently placed all four individuals in custody.
Summer Luxury Watch Thefts on the French Riviera
The robbery is part of a broader trend of crime facing authorities along the French Riviera this summer. Well-organized criminal groups have repeatedly targeted wealthy foreign visitors to steal high-value jewelry and luxury watches.
According to the gendarmerie, approximately 15 luxury watches have been stolen in the region since the start of this summer. Law enforcement officers have made a total of eight arrests across four of those theft cases, while investigations into the remaining incidents remain ongoing.
Reinforcements for Local Law Enforcement
In response to the surge in thefts, the local Gassin-Saint-Tropez gendarmerie squad received additional support this year. Authorities assigned a detachment from the Central Office for Combating Delinquency, known as OCLDI, to reinforce local forces.
This specialized detachment was deployed to investigate luxury watch thefts and target organized crime groups operating against affluent visitors in the area.
