The Cannes Film Festival
is attracting celebrities, billionaires and luxury brands from around the world.
And unfortunately…
it is also attracting highly specialized thieves.
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A luxury watch from the brand
Richard Mille
worth between 700,000 euros and 1 million euros
was stolen inside the prestigious Palm Beach hotel in Cannes.
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To put that into perspective:
1 million euros = nearly 11 million dirhams.
That’s more than the value of some luxury villas in Morocco.
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According to police sources,
the theft occurred around 3:15 AM during a crowding incident near the hotel’s restrooms.
The victim was briefly jostled,
and within seconds the watch disappeared.
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What makes the story even crazier
is that this wasn’t a random theft.
Authorities say Cannes is regularly targeted by highly organized criminal networks specializing in luxury watches and jewelry.
—
Last year alone,
17 thefts or attempted thefts of luxury watches were recorded in Cannes during the festival period.
Police arrested 31 suspects linked to these operations.
—
And the numbers are staggering.
In the Alpes-Maritimes region:
301 luxury watches were stolen in 2024
for a total estimated loss of 8.3 million euros,
or roughly 91 million dirhams.
—
Investigators explain that some networks are so sophisticated
they can:
fake serial numbers,
forge certificates,
and recreate original packaging
before reselling the watches internationally.
—
The stolen model was reportedly a Richard Mille,
a brand famous for producing some of the most expensive watches in the world.
Certain limited editions can sell for several million euros on the collector market.
—
One thing is becoming clear.
At Cannes,
the red carpet isn’t the only thing attracting attention.
Sometimes, a watch worth 11 million dirhams can become the most sought-after star of the festival.
