Thieves stole a high-value luxury watch from a guest at the Palm Beach hotel during the 79th Cannes Film Festival [3, 4].
The incident highlights a growing trend of opportunistic crime targeting the concentration of wealthy visitors and celebrities who gather in Cannes each May [1, 5].
The theft occurred during a private party at the hotel [2, 5]. Reports regarding the nature of the crime differ. One account said the watch was stolen during a period of crowding near the toilets [2]. Another report said a man was violently attacked at night under the threat of a weapon [1].
There are conflicting reports regarding the value of the stolen timepiece. One source placed the value at 400,000 euros [1], while another reported the watch was worth near 1 million euros [2].
Two people were injured during the incident [1]. Local authorities have maintained a security presence 24 hours a day throughout the festival to combat such thefts and the trade of narcotics [3].
Cannes has become a primary target for luxury watch thieves due to the high volume of expensive jewelry worn by attendees. The 79th edition of the festival continues to see reinforced security measures to protect guests from similar targeted attacks [3, 5].
“Thieves are targeting high‑value luxury watches, exploiting the concentration of wealthy visitors.”
The discrepancy in reporting—ranging from a opportunistic theft in a crowd to a violent armed attack—suggests a chaotic scene or evolving police narratives. However, the consistent target of high-value luxury goods indicates that the festival's prestige creates a predictable and lucrative environment for organized theft, necessitating the heightened 24-hour security presence.
