Walter Finch
SPANISH police have dismantled a Rolex-snatching crime network from Naples that has been terrorising Spain – with a little help from the Italian police.
As many as nine separate gangs – all linked to Italy’s notorious Camorra mafia – have been smashed, with 15 arrests.
Police solved 29 separate robberies over the space of two years and even managed to recover eight of the precious wrist pieces.
Five of the thieves were arrested in Marbella and another five in Barcelona. Further arrests were made in Valencia, Madrid, Palma and Ibiza.
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The Italian gangs used an ingenious method to grab the priceless watches, tracking their target on a motorbike while the victim was driving a car.
Once stopped at a traffic light, they would pull up to the car and push the wing mirror inwards.
When the driver reached out to straighten it, a second man on the bike would expertly remove the watch and speed off.
The gang would arrive in Spain by boat and then other members of the gang would return to Naples with the watches to be sold off by other mafia members.
