PJ seeks international cooperation in Lisbon luxury watch heist investigation

Following the armed luxury watch robbery on Avenida de Berlim in Lisbon on August 25, PJ contacts foreign police units to find the escaped suspects. The investigation is ongoing; The incident's connection to a wider organized crime network is not yet clear.

News text

The Portuguese Judicial Police (PJ) continues its investigation into the armed robbery that took place on August 25 in the Avenida de Berlim area of Lisbon. Authorities are cooperating with foreign police units to locate the suspects who fled after the incident.

According to the information reported in the press, four people traveling on two motorcycles took two luxury watches and a necklace after stopping the driver of a vehicle. It was reported that the total value of the stolen items was approximately 100 thousand euros.

During the chase after the robbery, the motorcycle on which one of the suspects was riding crashed. The passenger on the motorcycle died at the scene; It was announced that the other suspects escaped. It is stated that PJ is investigating all the circumstances of the incident and the identities of the remaining suspects.

According to Diário de Notícias, PJ identified one of the suspects and is receiving support from international databases and foreign law enforcement agencies. However, whether the escaped people left the country and the relationship of the incident with a wider criminal network will be clarified within the scope of the investigation.

In some publications, the incident is referred to as the “Rolex gang”. On the other hand, at this stage of the investigation, there is no final official judicial decision regarding the structure of the group in question, all its members and its connection with other events. For this reason, the definition of “gang” or organized network should be considered as an allegation in the investigation and press reports, not as a definitive fact.

News of theft of luxury watches have become more visible recently. The media coverage of multiple incidents targeting luxury watches in Lisbon in the last week of August strengthens this perception. However, without official and comparable crime statistics, it is not possible to say for sure that Rolex robberies are increasing.

Sources reviewed

Portugal Resident news text

Diário de Notícias – News on PJ's identification of the second suspect

A Bola – First information about the incident on August 25

Lusa – Crime scene recording on Avenida de Berlim

Diário de Notícias – international dimension of the investigation