Prahran: Breitling watch worth $42k found at Chapel St pawnshop
Would you notice if your $42,000 watch went missing? Police suspect the owner of a valuable and rare timepiece found in a Prahran pawn shop may not know it’s gone. It’s just one of the “weird and wonderful” items cops turn up trawling pawn shops.
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A rare find at a Prahran pawn shop — valued at more than $40,000 — has got police racing time to find its owner.
Stonnington detectives have put a hold on the sale of the limited edition gold Breitling watch, highly suspicious the watch wasn’t given up by its owner.
Detective Senior Constable Paul Thomas said he had called luxury watchmaker Breitling, who had confirmed the watch, believed to be about 10 years old, was one of only 250 ever made.
He said the watch was gold-plated and worth an estimated $42,000.
“I’m desperate to find an owner for it,” he said.
Sen Constable Thomas said the watch was found at a store on Chapel St, and its owner might not yet have realised it was gone.
But he said police could only freeze the sale of the watch for a few weeks.
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The detective said police regularly canvassed pawn shops for goods that “might not have been lawfully obtained”.
“(Thieves) pawn some weird and wonderful things.”
He said stolen bikes were one of the commonly pawned items, with many being valued at $2000-3000.
Anyone who recognises the watch or has information is urged to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at crimestoppervic.com.au