Thieves Who Allegedly Stole a $1 Million Patek Philippe From a Man in Beverly Hills Just Got Nabbed

Time’s up for two alleged watch thieves.

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Federal authorities have charged two men with stealing a million-dollar Patek Philippe from a diner at a Beverly Hills hotel earlier this month, as reported by Bloomberg .

The robbers, who were visiting the U.S. from South America, allegedly took the watch at gunpoint from a man who was sitting with his wife and twin daughters at the patio restaurant of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on August 7. One suspect pointed the gun at the victim, while the other removed the timepiece from his wrist. They then fled in a blue Toyota Corolla, according to documents filed Tuesday in federal court in Los Angeles. Three days later, police caught the duo driving a different vehicle that had been linked to a previous armed robbery in which a $30,000 Rolex was stolen in Beverley Hills.

The Patek in question is one of the rare, gem-set Nautilus models (Ref. 5711/113P-001) the Swiss watchmaker released in the late 2010s. Produced in limited numbers for VIP clients, the coveted wrist candy features a 40.5 mm platinum case and a bezel set with dazzling emeralds. This particular iteration of the Nautilus (5711) was discontinued in 2021, rendering examples such as this extremely rare. The stolen timepiece is worth approximately $1 million, per the court documents.

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The suspects—Jamer Mauricio Sepulveda Salazar of Colombia and Jesus Eduardo Padron Rojas of Venezuela—are believed to be part of a South American Theft Group. Federal authorities say that members of the group commonly exploit the U.S. immigration system and make fraudulent claims to enter the country. They often live nomadic lives in Airbnbs and cash-focused motels to avoid arrest. They also use counterfeit identification and aliases to conceal their identity and criminal history.

Sepulveda, 21, admitted to driving the Corolla, living at an Airbnb on Browning Boulevard, and seeing several firearms at said accommodation. He added that the crew engaged in surveillance and had been watching for the Patek for two weeks. He also admitted to stealing the aforementioned Rolex. Padron, 19, admitted to carrying the firearm out of the Airbnb on August 9. If convicted on all counts, Sepulveda faces life in federal prison and Padron faces 20 years.

Luxury watch thefts are increasing globally, with more than $1 billion worth of high-end timepieces reported missing or stolen last year alone. Robberies are now commonplace in cities such as New York , Los Angeles , and London . So what can you do? Stay vigilant on the streets, wear long sleeves to cover your watch, and maybe leave the prized Pateks and Rolexes at home.

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