Police have issued a 'gone in seconds' warning as armed Rolex gangs target victims in a spate of terrifying incidents across Birmingham . Horrifying robberies have shocked the city in recent years, with 130 people targeted for their Rolex watches since 2022. In some of the worst cases, robbery thugs smashed a dad's car before chasing him down a high street, held another man at knifepoint and even killed a third victim, Darren Smith, with a wrench for the luxury items.
Each ordeal took place in broad daylight. According to the new police data released this week, 18 people have been targeted for the specific designer watch so far this year - an average of three every month. In the first six months of 2024, thirteen victims have been robbed and five more burgled in Birmingham alone.
Read more: Armed £20k Rolex gang wielding hammer and ten-inch knife still on the run after dad's chilling ordeal And the armed robbery gang who targeted a dad-of-one in Boldmere High Street, chasing after him with a hammer and ten-inch knife for his £20k watch, are still on the run after the June incident. Police also confirmed the masked men who held a victim at knifepoint in the Jewellery Quarter in April, are also free to strike again as officers continue their enquiries. Asked this week whether people should think twice about wearing their Rolex watches, West Midlands Police offered general safety advice and said: "It takes a matter of seconds for valuable contents, such as a watch, mobile phon.