"Show Me the Two Watches Seen During the Day Again" The Full Story of the Rolex Theft Case [Han Seung-gon's Case Notebook]

Two Rolex Watches Stolen at Clock Store in Changwon, Gyeongnam
Suspect Posed as Customer, Fled Wearing Watch on Wrist
One Stolen Rolex Sold at Jewelry Store in Jongno, Seoul
Other Watch Reported Lost... Police Searching

On the 8th at 4:07 PM, suspect A, who fled with two Rolex watches after visiting a watch store in Changwon, Gyeongnam, is seen conversing with the store owner, Mr. Jeong, before the crime. The photo is from the watch store's closed-circuit television (CCTV). Photo by Mr. Jeong. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "At first, I thought I had to catch him running away, so I chased after him."

Jung, who has been running a watch shop in Changwon, Gyeongnam for four years, cannot forget the memory of that day. Looking back now, the man who appeared as a customer had many suspicious aspects from the start. The so-called 'luxury Rolex watch theft case' was reconstructed through an interview with Mr. Jung.

At 4:07 p.m. on the 8th, A (34) appeared at a watch shop in Jungang-dong, Seongsan-gu, Changwon City, showing many awkward signs for a customer.

He said, "I came to look at Rolex watches," and then spent about 20 minutes alternating between two Rolex watches, hesitating. Eventually, he said, "I will visit again," asked, "What are your business hours?" and left the store.

Mr. Jung recalled that day, saying, "After the theft incident, when I reviewed the CCTV footage, it seemed like he was looking around the crime scene. He was looking around the store here and there." He left the store at 4:25 p.m.

Two Rolex watches that were actually stolen. Photo by Jeong, the owner of the watch shop. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

"Show me the two watches I saw earlier during the day again"

A returned to the watch shop at 6:56 p.m. that day. It was his second visit. Mr. Jung recalled, "He came back around closing time and asked to see the two watches he saw earlier during the day again, then started to hesitate and waste time for a long time."

"Can you visit again next time?"

As closing time approached, Mr. Jung asked A to come back. He was planning to clean the store and leave. However, A replied, "I want to think about it a little more."

At that time, there was one customer in the store, and Mr. Jung guessed, "I think A was hoping that this customer would leave the store so that only the owner and I would be left alone."

When Mr. Jung began to feel suspicious about A, A sat on the store sofa and started a phone call with someone. He said, "The watch I'm looking at now is a bit expensive, but should I sell the watch I have now and add a little to buy it?" showing that he was still interested in the Rolex watch.

After the incident, Mr. Jung said about this moment, "Looking back now, it seems like a deception." He showed continuous interest in the Rolex watch both during the first and second visits, which seemed like a plan to eliminate signs of crime and appear as a customer.

One customer in the watch store left, and Mr. Jung asked A, "Have you decided on the watch?" A replied, "I will think about it for 10 more minutes and decide."

About this situation, Mr. Jung said, "I didn't know at the time, but the customer who came was also suspicious of the culprit and stood near the entrance watching him. I should have noticed it then... I regret not being more suspicious."

The theft suspect Mr. A is wearing a Rolex watch on his wrist. The photo is from the watch store's closed-circuit television (CCTV). Photo by Mr. Jeong. Reporter Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

Just then, an acquaintance working at a nearby store came in to use the printer, and A got up from his seat, leaving the store after saying, "I will come again tomorrow with my wife." He left at 9:22 p.m.

Mr. Jung said about A's behavior that day, "After reviewing the CCTV footage following the theft, many actions clearly aimed at committing the crime were captured. For example, coming around closing time, watching other customers, and leaving immediately when the acquaintance came in."

He added, "Also, from the first day of the visit until the crime, he avoided leaving fingerprints by not putting his hands on the display case or doing anything that would leave fingerprints. It was definitely a planned crime."

The theft suspect Mr. A is visiting the watch store for the third time, wearing a Rolex watch on his wrist. The photo is from the watch store's closed-circuit television (CCTV). Photo by Mr. Jeong. Reporter Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

"He said he got permission from his wife to buy both watches and asked to see both"

A returned to the watch shop again at 10:18 a.m. on the 9th, his third visit. Mr. Jung took out two Rolex watches from the display case and showed them to A. A said he wanted to see the certificates as well, so Mr. Jung took out and showed the certificates.

According to Mr. Jung, A put the watches on both wrists, secretly put the certificates in his pocket, took out a Rolex he brought with him, and asked, "Can you tell me the purchase price?" Later it was revealed that the Rolex he showed was a counterfeit, not genuine.

Just as Mr. Jung was about to check for a moment, A put on the Rolex watch, took the certificates, and ran out. He even left the shoes he wore when he came to the store and fled. This happened at 10:22 a.m. It took less than five minutes from entering to leaving the store.

The theft suspect Mr. A is seen going outside wearing a Rolex watch. The photo is from the watch store's closed-circuit television (CCTV). Photo by Mr. Jeong. Reporter Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

"Thief!"

Mr. Jung, who had two expensive Rolex watches stolen right before his eyes, immediately ran out.

Mr. Jung said, "I also thought I had to catch him at that moment, so I ran after him. He ran toward the road and crossed even though a car was coming," explaining the situation at the time. "I shouted 'Thief!' while following him, but when a car came on the road, I hesitated for a moment, and the distance between the culprit and me started to increase."

He continued, "I also recklessly ran across the road and fell while trying to catch him, losing him. He seemed confident in running and had planned to steal and escape. He ran very well," he explained.

Fortunately, the culprit dropped one certificate card on the ground while fleeing. Mr. Jung picked it up, stopped chasing, returned to the store, and reported to the police.

The theft suspect Mr. A is fleeing while wearing a Rolex watch. The photo is from the watch store's closed-circuit television (CCTV). Photo by Mr. Jeong. Reporter Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

The Changwon Jungbu Police Station, investigating the case, announced on the 20th that they had arrested and detained A on suspicion of theft.

According to the police investigation, A decided to steal Rolex watches and searched online for Rolex watch dealers in Changwon. It was essentially a planned crime.

He also had an escape plan immediately after the crime. He took a car borrowed in advance from an acquaintance and headed straight to Seoul. Then he entered a gold and silver shop in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and sold one stolen watch for 16 million won.

Afterward, A fled again to Changnyeong, Gyeongnam, where his parents live. The police tracked his movements and arrested him in Changnyeong on the 14th.

He reportedly told the police that "the money from selling the watch was all spent on paying debts or living expenses, and he lost the other watch."

However, the police find A's claim of losing one watch less credible. Since he dropped one stolen watch certificate right after fleeing, it is possible he could not dispose of it because of that.

The theft suspect Mr. A is fleeing while wearing a Rolex watch (red circle at the top). Behind him, Mr. Jeong, the owner of the watch store, is chasing Mr. A (circle at the bottom). The photo is from the watch store's closed-circuit television (CCTV). Photo by Mr. Jeong. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

The police are currently investigating whether A, who is detained, committed other crimes.

Mr. Jung sighed with relief, saying there were many suspicious points on the day of the incident. He said, "I never imagined something like this would happen to me. At first, since he came as a customer, I didn't suspect much."

He added, "When he visited the second and third times, I was a bit suspicious, but since he wore a mask and hat, I thought it was because of COVID-19, and it was hard to tell him to take off the mask, so it is even more unfortunate that this happened."