Charles Leclerc’s watch, which has a worth of around two million euros was stolen in April
Police in Italy has tracked down the thieves who stole Charles Leclerc’s watch from his wrist earlier this year. In the build-up to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, Leclerc, who was leading the World Championship at the time, suffered the traumatic experience of having his Richard Mille watch stolen during an evening out in the coastal town of Viareggio, Tuscany.
Leclerc’s watch was stolen in April when he was in Italy for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Asked by a group of people to pose for a photograph with them on a dimly-lit street, Leclerc then found his timepiece had been removed from his wrist and he naturally reported it to the police. In the days afterward, Leclerc revealed early progress had been slow in efforts to apprehend the thieves and recover the watch.
However, finally the Italian police have some good news and the thieves have been tracked down. The watch is a special edition one and also contains a personal dedication to Leclerc.
As per reports, the perpetrators have been identified and were already known to the police, which suggests it would have been the “perfect heist” but, from the thieves’ point of view, due to unforeseen circumstances was “ruined” because the Ferrari driver’s “silk-screened signature was on the watch case”.
Charles Leclerc was pretty sad after the incident occurred as the watch is a very dear possession of his. In a press conference at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, just four days after the theft had occurred, Leclerc said: “It hasn’t been a great experience but I cannot say much more than that. Everything is going on with the police and they are trying to find them. It hasn’t been as smooth as what I’ve read. But overall I am fine and fully focused on the weekend. It won’t hurt me for this weekend.”
But, the incident did seem to affect his performance. Leclerc made his first and the most significant driving error of the season in Imola, when he spun on a drying track in the closing stages while chasing Sergio Perez for second place behind winner Max Verstappen, eventually finishing sixth.
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