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It is feared that two women dubbed the “Rolex Rippers” have struck for the 22nd time – targeting another wealthy elderly man and stealing his expensive watch.
Thieves are believed to be behind the burglary of a 70-year-old man outside his home in an upscale part of Poole, Dorset.
The women targeted men in wealthy areas and near exclusive golf clubs in the south of England.
The latest incident is said to be at least on the 22nd, with the duo targeting men in Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey, Gloucestershire and Sussex.
In many cases, the woman posed as charity workers with clipboards and stole their victims’ watches without them realizing by signing a petition.
But other times they’ve been less subtle and simply ripped the expensive watches off men’s wrists.
Detectives chasing two women dubbed the ‘Rolex Rippers’, who allegedly targeted at least 22 expensive watches for older men in the south of England this year, released CCTV footage
Dorset Police released grainy CCTV footage of the two women and a gray Toyota they allegedly used to escape
Thieves are believed to be behind the burglary of a 70-year-old man outside his home in an upscale part of Poole in Dorset (general view of the road)
In the latest incident, a woman in her 20s and another in her 40s approached a man outside his home in Cliff Drive, Poole, where the average house price exceeds £ 1million.
It is a stone’s throw from the Parkstone Golf Club, where membership costs £ 2,000 per year.
The couple, who are said to be Romanian and wear face masks, asked him for the name of the property and acted affectionately towards him.
He tried to push them away and only noticed after they left his Rolex watch had been taken.
Police also released the image of a gray car which is linked to the latest theft.
A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: “A victim, a 70-year-old man, was standing outside an address in Cliff Drive around 2:40 pm on Saturday 16 October 2021 when he was approached by two women.
“They asked for the name of the property, gave him pencil and paper to write it down, and were affectionate towards him.
“He tried to push them away and as the women left the man realized that the Rolex watch he wore on his wrist was gone.
“One of the women was described as being in her 40s and the other in her 20s. They were believed to be Romanians and wore face masks.
“This incident follows a series of burglaries and inadvertent thefts where Rolex watches have been stolen in recent months, in Dorset and elsewhere in the country.”
Detectives have asked locals to submit CCTV or dashcam footage that could aid their investigation.
Detective Sergeant Karen Penn said, “We are conducting a number of investigations into this latest incident and I urge anyone with information that can assist our investigation to come forward.
“I’m especially keen to hear from any nearby residents with home video surveillance systems, or passing motorists with dashcams, who may have captured relevant footage.
“Our investigation into the larger series is also ongoing and we will continue to urge people to be vigilant if they wear expensive watches or jewelry, especially if they are approached in this manner.
“Many victims are older people and we urge people with older relatives to discuss this with them and make them aware of this type of crime that is taking place.”
Alan Bruce who had already had his £ 14,000 watch stolen by the two women nicknamed the “Rolex Rippers”
The women are said to have struck several times in Dorset at Poole, Wimborne, Wareham, Ferndown, Highcliffe and Poundbury.
Hampshire Police say they have at least ten victims, including two brothers, 85 and 91, targeted 80 miles apart in Gloucestershire and Surrey.
Numerous thefts have taken place in the parking lots of exclusive golf clubs.
Police have warned elderly men to be on guard while wearing valuable watches when in public.
The two women were previously said to be between 20 and 30 years old and were 5ft 2in and 5ft 9in tall with dark hair and Eastern European accents.
But the description of an older woman in the latest flight raised the possibility that more people were involved.
The wave of thefts is believed to have started on May 19 at Stoneham Golf Club near Southampton.
