Five men have been sentenced by Monaco’s Criminal Court following a series of thefts involving luxury watches and professional photographic equipment, including an elaborate operation targeting a Swiss watchmaker during the Top Marques exhibition.
The principal incident occurred on May 11, 2025, near the Grimaldi Forum, when a punctured tyre forced the exhibitor to stop his vehicle. Taking advantage of a carefully timed distraction, thieves removed two briefcases containing 24 watches, reportedly worth €173,000. Investigators subsequently identified five suspects, aged between 29 and 38, who were arrested in France and extradited to the Principality.
During proceedings on November 9, as reported by Monaco Matin, two Peruvian brothers admitted stealing the watches but denied collaborating with three other defendants, two Colombians and a Mexican, who acknowledged separate thefts of professional camera equipment.
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The prosecution maintained that the incidents formed part of a coordinated criminal operation, although the precise relationship between the defendants remained disputed. The court ultimately distinguished between their involvement, acquitting the three men of the watch theft whilst finding all five guilty of criminal association.
The Peruvian brothers received three-year prison sentences, whilst the remaining defendants were jailed for 18 months. All five were banned from Monaco for ten years. A photographer received €4,000 in compensation, whilst the watchmaker must provide further evidence supporting his financial claim.
Source: Monaco-Matin
