Two women thieves are stealing Rolex watches from elderly men walking through exclusive neighbourhoods.
The two robbers have struck five times in the last few months.
In the latest theft one woman approached a man in his 70s in a car park in Highcliffe, Dorset.
She grabbed the watch off his wrist before escaping in a waiting car.
The victim was left bruised and distressed at the loss of the sentimental timepiece.
It’s the fifth identical theft in the Dorset area since May.
Then, a man in his 70s had his watch stolen by one of the two women who had stopped him in the street in exclusive Sandbanks.
She wrenched at his his arm and wrestled off his Rolex before running to a waiting car.
Last month a man in his 80s had his Rolex taken when a woman jumped into the passenger seat of his car in Wareham.
He told her to get out before she grabbed and scratched at his arm.
Only later did he realise his watch had been taken.
A few weeks ago, a woman walked up to a man in his 70s in the car park of the exclusive Ferndown Golf Club.
She clutched his arm and took the watch from his wrist.
Again, she ran to a waiting vehicle – believed to be a black Ford Focus – and made off.
The following day in Wimborne a man was asked to sign a charity document.
The woman took his watch.
Both women – one blonde, one brunette – are described as white and aged between 25 and 40.
They speak with a foreign accent.
PC Jim Perks, of Christchurch police, said:
“We have had a number of incidents of a similar nature, and I would again remind people to be vigilant and be particularly careful if you are wearing any high value watches or jewellery and are approached in suspicious circumstances.”
Commenting on the latest theft Pc Perks added:
“This watch was of sentimental value to the victim as well as being expensive.
“We are carrying out a number of enquiries to try to identify the woman responsible for this robbery.
“I am appealing to anyone who was in the area and witnessed any suspicious activity, or who has any information that might assist our investigation, to please come forward.
“I would also ask that anyone who was driving in the area around the time and has dashcam fitted to their vehicle please checks their footage for anything of relevance.”
