by InTrieste
A curious turn of events has complicated an ongoing theft investigation in Milan, where luxury watches allegedly worth €600,000 were returned less than a day after being reported stolen — accompanied by a handwritten note from the thief asserting the items were counterfeit.
The incident unfolded on the morning of June 25 at the Westin Palace Hotel, a high-end property located near Milan’s central train station. According to local authorities, an American tourist was checking out of the hotel when his Tom Ford backpack was snatched in the lobby. Inside were four Richard Mille watches, each reportedly valued at €150,000, as well as a wallet, cash in euros and U.S. dollars, several credit cards, and a pair of Apple AirPods.
Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators revealed that two individuals were involved in the robbery: one serving as a lookout and the other executing the theft. A 27-year-old French national, believed to be the accomplice, was arrested on site. The primary suspect — identified as a 19-year-old with prior offenses related to pickpocketing — fled the scene with the stolen backpack.
Police were initially able to trace the signal from the victim’s AirPods, which provided a brief indication of the suspect’s whereabouts before the device was either deactivated or discarded. Authorities said this tactic suggests a level of experience in evading electronic tracking.
The next morning, however, the case took an unexpected twist. Hotel staff discovered a package left near the property’s front entrance. Inside were the stolen watches, the wallet, and a note written in Italian that read: “They’re fake.” The cash and electronic devices were not returned.
The claim of inauthenticity has not yet been verified. Milan police confirmed the watches have been sent for forensic and expert analysis to determine whether they are genuine Richard Mille timepieces or high-quality replicas.
A spokesperson for the Milan Police Department declined to comment on the potential motives behind the return but said investigators are exploring whether the thief experienced remorse, feared legal consequences, or genuinely believed the watches were counterfeit and therefore of little value.
The case has drawn media attention both in Italy and abroad, particularly given the notoriety and high resale value of Richard Mille watches — timepieces known for their intricate engineering and frequent association with celebrities and athletes.
As of Wednesday, the main suspect remains at large. The investigation is ongoing.
