Robberies Could Be Linked To “Rolex Rippers” Operating In The South

Two recent local robberies may have been the work of two young women who have been dubbed the “Rolex Robbers” by the national media.

The pair are reported to be operating in upmarket areas of southern England and may be responsible for more than 16 offences.

Several of the thefts have taken place in the car parks of golf clubs and the majority of victims have been lone men aged in their 70s.

In many of the cases the pair have posed as charity workers with clipboards and have stolen watches from their victims without them realising as they sign a petition. In other incidents, watches have ripped off the wrists of victims who have been left bruised and shocked.

That was how two women approached an elderly couple in Bishop’s Waltham last week.

Prior to that, an 86-year-old man was robbed of his watch in Waltham Chase.

Reports say the robbers have struck at least seven times in Poole, Wimborne, Wareham, Ferndown, Highcliffe and Poundbury in Dorset in the past two months.

In July 2020 Hampshire Police issued e-fit descriptions (above) of two women who mugged a 78-year-old man of his Rolex watch in Emsworth. At the time police said there had been four similar thefts of Rolex watches.

Police have warned elderly men to be on their guard while wearing high-value watches while out in public.

Both women are said to be aged in their 20s or 30s and between 5ft 2ins and 5ft 9ins tall. They both have dark hair and Eastern European accents although some victims have believed them to be Spanish.

Neither Hampshire or Dorset Police have officially linked the thefts but Dorset police have acknowledged ‘a number of incidents of a similar nature’.