Rolex Watches Robbed and Recovered in Avenida Las Palmas

By Kaveh Paymayesh

March 20, 2022

On Friday 18th, March, two Chilean visitors were robbed of their Rolex watches. The event occurred in the ritzy sector of Las Palmas, El Poblado.

In less than 24 hours, police swiftly located the perpetrators and recovered two high-value watches.

Details of the robbery

On Friday afternoon, two Chilean nationals were dispossessed of their watches at gunpoint. The event took place outside of an exclusive shopping mall in Las Palmas.

The perpetrators, two men, carried out the robbery in classic fashion; a modality known as ‘fleteo’. This is where one individual waits on a bike whilst the other steals the goods, usually at gunpoint. Fleteos are opportunistic events, with robbers seizing even the briefest of moments.

All 34 seconds of the ordeal were captured on camera.

In the video below, we even see how the gunman returns for something that he drops. He then runs some 20m towards his escort before they both flee the scene by motorbike.

As illustrated on camera, the use of motorbikes allows them to weave through traffic and evade the confrontation expeditiously.

Authorities have confirmed that a revolver was used.

EN VIDEO una indignante situación: con arma de fuego robaron a dos ciudadanos chilenos en Las Palmas. Así fue ➡ https://t.co/cTfee3hVK3 pic.twitter.com/8UchjBsJLX
— El Colombiano (@elcolombiano) March 19, 2022

Where did the incident occur?

The robbery occurred at Palms Avenue Mall, identifiable for its Carulla supermarket. Anybody passing Avenida Las Palmas will recognize it. It’s a place that is frequented by foreigners.

A commendable police response: swift & fruitful

Throughout Las Palmas, the ubiquity of CCTV proved crucial in assisting authorities to identify the perpetrators.

In less than a day, police were able to capture those responsible and retrieve the stolen possessions.

All this was much to the surprise of the Chilean victims, who had not reported the crime.

The operational commander of the Aburrá Valley Metropolitan Police appealed for the victims to denounce the crime.

My thoughts. What can we learn?

Firstly, I commend the authorities for their swift and decisive action.

In Latin America, the inadequacy of police has resulted in a public attitude of indifference.

Many believe that reporting a crime is pointless. The victims, also from South America, chose not to denounce this particular robbery.

Perhaps, they too thought it would be a fruitless endeavour. Regardless, the recovery of their watches may prompt a different response in future.

This outcome reaffirms my belief in the competency of the Metropolitan Police of the Aburrá Valley.

Results like this continue to distinguish them from other forces within the region.

Therefore, I would implore people to denounce crimes, just as they would in Europe or the US.

What the victims did right

The victims fully cooperated with the assailants. Seems easy enough when they intimidate you with a revolver.

Yet, not everybody does so.

Case studies – one after another – underline how dangerous it is to resist robbery in Colombia. Do NOT do it.

Getting robbed in Medellin is not a likely event. However, you should be psychologically prepared to relinquish whatever it may be that you have on your person. Keep anything that you’re not willing to lose at your accommodation, where it is secure.

What the victims could have done differently

I would not recommend people to wear high-value accessories, especially not brands like Rolex.

The more you ‘dress down’ in Medellin, the less likely you are to be victimized.

Again, I commend them for their swift cooperation. I’m not sure everybody would be so quick to let go of their Rolex watches.

Finally, they could have reported the crime. Even if nothing were to come of it, there is nothing to lose.

This widespread attitude of indifference is reasonable given the rate of unsolved crimes in Latin America. Despite this, if the police are stepping up, the public should too.

The nature of robberies in Medellin

As shown in the CCTV recording, robberies tend to unfold spontaneously, in a matter of a moment. They also tend to be brief, with victims often surprised by the brevity of the attack.

The victims in this case likely didn’t believe that danger was lurking. After all, they were in Las Palmas, surrounded by commerce and people.

For this reason, it is important to always check your six. Understand that from one instant to the next, things can change.

Don’t let your surroundings fool you. Robberies tend to be quick and inconspicuous. Even in populated areas, there is no guarantee that others will be aware of what has happened. Robbers know this.

Robberies remain a common feature throughout Colombia. Proper preparation is therefore essential for wellbeing during your time in Medellin. Read more about that here.