Are you scared of being robbed for your watch/ring?

[BrainInAJar]

Hey,

I'm watching "Hunting the Rolex Rippers" on iplayer. Gangs robbing folk in London for their Rolexes. The graphic said a robber would get 4-6k for a Ladydate Just.

Now, before I split with my evil ex-fiance, I wore a Tiffany engagement ring which he paid 8k for. (I would have preferred a hula hoop for a ring and genuine love but that's a different thread) I lived in London at the time and wore it without fear (10 years ago).

Questions which occur to me:

1. Why do robbers focus more on Rolexes than diamonds?
2. Do you avoid wearing expensive jewellery or take precautions?

DP doesn’t wear his Rolex any more, and he’s reluctantly considering selling it, despite it being made of humble stainless steel. The watch is a GMT Master ‘Batman’, which is highly visible & distinctive because of its black & blue bezel.

He has owned it for 8 or 9 years & worn it all the time without any issues, but it has recently started to attract the wrong sort of attention. Not from people who have nice watches themselves & want to chat but from people who until fairly recently wouldn’t have know the difference between a Rolex & a Casio. ‘Niiiice watch, bruv, innit’ is not exactly the sort of attention he wants…

I was mugged for my engagement ring on the tube a couple of weeks ago. I’ve never worried about my ring as I thought they’d more likely go for a necklace or bracelet which can be ripped off easily. I had no choice but to let them take it as there was 2 of them and I wasn’t putting up a fight. A kind man did shout but it was too late. I have insurance but the sentimental value can’t be replaced. I’ve decided not to replace it and instead get a simple less valuable ring because I’m too scared to be targeted again.

I wanted to share my story to warn others as I never thought this would happen in public with CCTV. I’ve lived in London my whole life and never been mugged. The British transport police have also decided not to investigate as I wasn’t harmed and they’re under resourced. The fact they’ve got away with it will only make them more brazen.

Like PPs have said, it's about demand rather than expense per se.

I wear very expensive antique jewelry so not stuff that'd be in demand or sell well on the black market. If antiques dealers suddenly start marauding around on mopeds then I'll start to worry.

On a side note, I went to London last summer with a friend wearing Sweaty Betty leggings that were £90. My friend - who's a panicky soul anyway and terrified of London - was petrified the whole time that someone was going to steal my trousers off my very legs. Reader: They did not.

@Londoner34 I'm so sorry! Interesting though that you say you thought they'd go for a necklace or bracelet rather than a ring. I would have thought it 100% would be an engagement ring they would go for. Harder to get a necklace/bracelet off plus it's less obvious if they're valuable I think. And probably never as valuable as someone's e-ring.

One of my friends dropped her (5 figure sum) ring in a carpark and was absolutely frantic. She never got it back.

Wishing you a long and happy marriage, however!

@Londoner34 I'm really sorry to hear that

I have never worn anything expensive like this, partly due to living in a rough bit of London. I have a gold chain and ring from an auntie who gave it to me but hardly ever wear it and never outside people's homes.

I've moved out but don't drive, so buses and trains now. It's my birthday soon and I was looking at a £200 ring. Won't seem like much to some people but it is to me.

However, I realised I would feel at risk with it on. It's possible someone might think it's worth more than it is etc. It did actually make me wonder if thieves can spot high value because an average engagement ring or wedding ring will be what, ten times the price?

what rings can be bought that no one will nick, is it silver only?

I would avoid gold personally if you’re concerned about it. They took two rings of mine, both gold. My engagement ring was expensive but not flashy like some I have seen. I also felt safe wearing it as I was travelling at a busy time on the tube, I wouldn’t wear it on a night out clubbing/drinking. The other gold ring was plain and only worth about £50. This suggests to me that people have become more brazen.

don’t wear an expensive watch & turn my expensive ring inwards. Tbh the thing I see getting snatched all the time is phones; don’t walk along the street tapping into it oblivious to your surroundings & if you hear a moped just put it away!

Mine was spun around when they mugged me. They also took a plain gold band. I’m hoping my experience was rare but with the police not investigating further due to lack of resource despite there being CCTV, I fear that this will become more common. I see so many girls with gorgeous diamond engagement rings on the tube, much flashier than mine.

@Londoner34 Yes, that's what I was thinking, they are more brazen now

There's no deterrents and there's people who would see a £50 ring as worth the drugs they'll buy. I guess I'll stick to no jewellery or stuff that's obviously junk. I didn't worry when I was driving but it's all public transport for me now.

i worry about it but I am still wearing my large center stone wedding ring. I turn it around sometimes but think to myself…you’re not fooling anyone. It’s hard to remove. Not impossible but a bit tricky and if I was nervous or frightened it may be more so. I want to enjoy my jewelry. I would give it up quickly if approached and hope I could
remain calm enough to get it off. I hope they would take my purse instead.

Similar to @EmmaEmerald, I wear a simple gold ring (scrap £150) and simple but pretty chain and pendant which I'd be more annoyed about if stolen. No watch.

Sorry @Londoner34, it's scary how fast they move.