Federal authorities have charged two men visiting the US from South America with stealing a $1 million wristwatch at a Beverly Hills restaurant, saying they were part of a crime tourism ring. The suspects allegedly stole a Patek Philippe at gunpoint from a man who was sitting with his wife and daughter at the patio restaurant of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on August 7. Witness accounts indicate a brazen attack that has raised concerns about ongoing watch thefts.
The affidavit attached to the criminal complaint indicates the suspects belong to a South American Theft Group, designated transnational criminal organizations of citizens from countries such as Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela. The groups commonly exploit the US immigration system and make fraudulent claims to enter the country, showing a troubling trend in organized crime that takes advantage of lucrative targets.
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