Internationally wanted watch thief arrested at Schiphol

A 39-year-old Serbian man was arrested at Schiphol Airport on Tuesday for involvement in the sale of stolen watches, the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (KMar) reported. The man was internationally wanted and was apprehended during a routine passport check. His identity was confirmed through international law enforcement databases.

The suspect has been accused of involvement in a violent break-in that occurred in 2021 at a luxury watch store on the Caribbean island of Saint-Barthélemy. During the robbery, several individuals reportedly used force to enter the premises and subdued staff before fleeing with 269 high-end watches, valued at approximately 1.4 million dollars.

According to the KMar, the man sold several of the stolen watches in the United States. U.S. authorities issued an arrest warrant for the suspect on charges related to the possession, transport, and sale of stolen goods. The arrest was the result of cooperation between Dutch authorities, U.S. law enforcement, and Interpol.

The suspect remains in custody and is being handed over to the Public Prosecution Service for extradition proceedings. He will appear before a Dutch court, which will determine whether the legal conditions for extradition to the United States are met.