Female thieves dubbed ‘Rolex Rippers’ target elderly men’s watches

Two women have reportedly snatched as many as 14 watches from the wrists of their wealthy victims (Picture: BNPS)

Two women dubbed the ‘Rolex Rippers’ who steal expensive watches off the wrists of wealthy men are said to have struck at least 14 times.

The pair, aged in their 20s and 30s, have mostly targeted lone men in their 70s in the car parks of exclusive golf clubs or posing as charity workers who stole their victim’s watch after asking them to sign a petition.

Other times they have been less subtle and simply ripped the expensive timepieces off the wrists of men who have been left shocked and bruised afterwards.

It is thought the pair have struck seven times in Poole, Wimborne, Wareham, Ferndown, Highcliffe and Poundbury in Dorset in the past two months.

Alan Bruce, who lost his £14,000 gold Rolex watch, described the pair as ‘highly trained professionals’ who are likely to be part of a wider gang.

The 63-year-old marine engineer was walking in Wimborne town centre on July 15 when he was approached by the women.

Alan Bruce, 63, was targeted by two women pretending to collecting signatures for a petition (Picture: Max Willcock/BNPS)

Alan Bruce had his £14,000 gold Rolex stolen by the pair (Picture: Alan Bruce/BNPS)

He said: ‘One had a clipboard and the taller one was making out she was deaf and they wanted signatures for a petition for a new deaf centre.

‘I signed it with my left hand, which was the same hand my watch was on, and one of them then gabbed hold of me and went to hug me.

‘I straight away put my hand on my pocket where my wallet was and pushed her off and walked away.’ Soon after, he realised his watch was gone.

‘These women are highly trained professional dippers who know what they are doing,’ he added.

‘They are probably part of a bigger gang from London and are targeting soft targets in affluent areas of the south.’

Both women are between 5ft 2in and 5ft 9in tall, have dark hair and Eastern European accents, although some victims have believed them to be Spanish.

Police have warned elderly men to be vigilant while wearing high-value items.

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