A man who stole several watches from a suite at the Hotel Hermitage in January 2019 escaped detection until September 2020, when French police caught up with the culprit after the theft of a safe in Antibes, French-language daily Monaco Matin reported.

The watches included a Rolex worth 34,000 euros and the total value of his booty was 69,000 euros. The victim was described in Monaco’s criminal court as a wealthy Italian who lives year-round at the hotel.

An investigation by the security services in Monaco found that the thief gained entrance through a window that had been left open.
The defendant had 18 previous convictions in France, mainly for theft and often targeting hotels.

The prosecutor called for six months jail time, but the court decided that an 18-month sentence would be more appropriate.

PHOTO: Jack Brodie