A ‘dancing’ thief stole Nico’s Rolex in central Antwerp

Do not chase a suspect into traffic or initiate a confrontation over an insured object. Move to a well-lit place, ask nearby staff or witnesses to remain available and write down the suspect’s clothing, direction of travel, companions and any vehicle or e-scooter. Note the exact time and location before those details blur. Nearby shops, hotels, cafés and De Lijn stops may have cameras, but victims should ask police to secure footage rather than attempting to obtain or circulate images themselves.

Politiezone Antwerpen advises victims to call 112 immediately when thieves are still nearby and to seek help from bystanders. Its standing pickpocketing guidance also says people who are suddenly bumped or hemmed in should check their possessions immediately. For non-urgent contact in Antwerp, the local force operates the Blauwe Lijn on 0800 123 12; emergencies requiring police intervention can also be reported through 101 or 112.

A report should contain the watch’s brand, model, colour, serial number, distinguishing marks and photographs. Antwerp police says invoices or receipts are strong evidence of ownership, while clear photographs are particularly useful for jewellery and other distinctive valuables. The federal Police-on-Web service, available through my.police.be, handles eligible non-urgent reports, although the correct route depends on whether violence, threats or an immediate investigative opportunity were involved. Victims can instead make an appointment at a police station; the Antwerp police headquarters is at Politieplein 1 in Berchem.

Dutch is the working language of local public services in Antwerpen, a Vlaamse gemeente. An expat who cannot confidently describe the incident in Dutch can ask whether assistance is available in another language and bring a Dutch-speaking companion or interpreter when making a detailed statement. A useful phrase is: ‘Mijn horloge is gestolen’ — my watch has been stolen. For an active emergency, clarity matters more than perfect Dutch: give the location first, then describe what happened and whether the suspect is still visible.

After obtaining the police report or proces-verbaal number, contact the insurer without avoidable delay and follow the notification period in the policy. Do not assume that an ordinary home-content policy automatically covers a luxury watch worn in the street. Coverage may depend on theft, valuables or all-risks extensions, geographical limits, security conditions and compensation ceilings.

Belgian insurance federation Assuralia says theft policies can impose specific reimbursement limits for jewellery and other valuables. It recommends retaining invoices, valuation certificates and photographs because insurers may require proof that an item was owned and what it was worth. Owners of expensive watches should therefore record the reference and serial numbers now, keep photographs and purchase papers away from the watch, and ask their insurer in writing whether loss outside the home is covered.

If the stolen item also included bank cards, Antwerp police directs victims to Card Stop on 078 170 170. A stolen phone should be blocked through the network provider. Those steps are peripheral to Nico’s reported case, which concerns a watch, but they matter when distraction thieves use close contact to take several objects.

Antwerp’s historic centre, shopping streets and nightlife remain ordinary public spaces, not zones to avoid because of one report. The proportionate response is situational awareness, especially in crowds or when an unfamiliar person engineers bodily contact. Wearing a sleeve over a conspicuous watch, avoiding unnecessary display and checking the clasp after contact can reduce opportunity without turning a visit into a security exercise.

There is also a balance in how such cases are discussed. Police and potential victims benefit when a recognisable technique is publicised. Hospitality businesses and residents, however, have reason to resist claims that an isolated report proves a general deterioration in city-centre safety. The evidence reviewed here supports caution about a documented method, not conclusions about current crime trends or the background of whoever stole Nico’s Rolex.

What happens next depends on evidence that has not been made public: camera images, witnesses, the watch’s serial number and whether detectives identify links to other files. Until police or prosecutors disclose an arrest, recovery or charging decision, the identity and number of offenders must be treated as unknown. The enduring takeaway is simpler: break unexpected physical contact, check the wrist immediately, record details and use the Belgian police and insurance channels quickly.