Portugal's Polícia Judiciária has arrested a 20-year-old Portuguese man suspected of being part of the so-called "Rolex Gang", the group blamed for a series of armed robberies targeting luxury watches. An 18-year-old foreign national has also been formally identified in connection with the same case.
The pair are suspected of three aggravated robberies — one of them attempted — involving a firearm, plus document forgery. The first incident happened in Almancil on June 30, when two men on motorcycles allegedly approached victims sitting in a car and threatened them at gunpoint in an attempt to take their high-end watches. The victims fought back, the robbery failed, and they were reportedly assaulted in the process.
Things went differently on August 24, again in Almancil: a similar motorcycle-based approach ended with the suspects allegedly getting away with a wristwatch worth €35,000. Then on September 4 in Lagoa, a food delivery courier was threatened with a gun and robbed of his motorcycle and personal belongings — a reminder that these crews don't only target tourists flashing expensive watches.
According to investigators, the suspects repeatedly swapped motorcycles and used fake number plates to stay ahead of police. Searches eventually turned up a replica firearm and other items believed to be linked to the thefts. The 18-year-old, who the PJ says was living in Portugal illegally, has already appeared before Portimão Criminal Court and must report regularly to a police station; the 20-year-old is still awaiting a judge's decision on his bail conditions.
The Faro Public Prosecutor's Office is overseeing the investigation, and police say they're still working to map out the full size of the group and track down possible accomplices.
Why it matters for travellers: the Algarve is one of Europe's busiest summer holiday regions, and the victims here were hit in prime tourist territory — Almancil sits right by the luxury resort belt around Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo. Watch-snatching crews operate in similar ways across southern Europe: two riders, a quick approach, a demand for the watch on your wrist. The practical advice is unglamorous but simple. If you're wearing a high-value watch on holiday, keep it low-key in bars, car parks and on the street, avoid wearing it walking at night, and never resist if confronted — hand it over and call the police. The good news is that Portugal's PJ appears to be actively dismantling the network, and courts are applying supervision measures to those identified.
The case is ongoing, so more arrests or identification of other members wouldn't be a surprise. For now, holidaymakers heading to the central Algarve this season have one less thing to worry about — but it's a useful nudge to think twice about what's on your wrist when you step out for dinner.
