Watches worth nearly $8.5m still missing after French thieves target Canberra home

Thursday, 11 December 2025 13:54

Over 70 luxury items worth around $10 million were stolen, and some still haven't been recovered.

A rare watch worth nearly $6 million is one of several luxury items still missing after a major robbery in Canberra.

Four French men stole more than 70 items, including luxury handbags, watches and jewellery worth around $10 million from a house in the nation's capital on October 15.

Among items yet to be recovered are a Richard Mille rm88 Smiley watch and a Patek Philip 5711 Tiffany watch, which have an estimated value of $8.5 million combined according to Chrono24.

The Richard Mille rm88 Smiley watch is worth around $5.7 million, with only 50 ever made. One has now been stolen from a residence in Canberra, Australia.

The type of Smiley watch allegedly stolen in the Canberra robbery.

The Richard Mille watch alone is worth around $5.7 million, with only 50 ever being made.

Other times of note still missing are Hermes Chaos and Gavroche rings, a Van Cleef Seoul necklace, and a Patek Philip 5711 40th anniversary watch.

Policew ere called to a home on October 15, where CCTV revealed two men had broken into the home.

A Mitsubishi Outlander has been seen near the house at the time of the robbery, which had allegedly travelled in and out of the ACT multiple times before the theft occurred.

It was later revealed to have been rented by a French man following his arrival in Australia on October 7.

He arrived in the country with three other Frenchmen.

Two Patek Philip watches are also yet to be recovered after the robbery in Canberra, Australia.

It is alleged the four flew to Australia specifically for the robbery.

The four men were later located and arrested at a fast-food restaurant in Wentworthville in Sydney's west on October 19.

The next day, a search of a home in the same suburb found some of the stolen items, including Hermes handbags.

They were extradited back to the ACT on October 21, where they were charged with aggravated burglary (intent to commit theft and joint commission theft).

ACT Police are working alongside New South Wales Police and French authorities to locate the rest of the stolen items.

Some have been recovered in Europe and sent back to Australia.

Anyone who can assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers via the Crime Stoppers ACT website.

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