Watch thieves on trial

This summer, luxury watches have been a target for organised thieves

Following a spate of luxury watch thefts, two Italians were detained and charged in Juan les Pins on Friday 10th August. Originally from Naples, the two men are accused of snatching a watch from the wrist of a man in Cannes before fleeing the scene on a scooter, hurtling in the direction of Antibes.

With the police hot on their heels, according to local media Nice Matin, the two men abandoned their scooter in Juan les Pins and attempted to blend into the crowd of tourists. But their cover was soon blown so they hastily sped off once more. The high speed chase was brought to an end when the two-wheeled bike collided with an Anti-Crime Brigade car from Antibes.

But it didn't end there. The men fled to the beach, one even tried to throw himself in the sea. The police finally managed to catch the determined criminals as a group of shocked sunbathers looked on.

The two men, aged between 23 and 26, are facing the criminal court in Grasse charged with theft.

Local reports say the men are associated with the Camorra, the Neapolitan Mafia, from whom they learned the art of watch snatching.

More than one million euros worth of luxury watches have been snatched by a gang of thieves this summer along the Côte d’Azur. 

Emma Hawcroft