Milan — The two men believed to be responsible for a series of high-value watch robberies carried out using the "fake mirror collision" technique have been identified and arrested in Naples.
The Digos and the Flying Squad Investigators in Milan identified them by comparing video surveillance footage with footage from previous robberies. Investigators believe they aren't improvisers, but specialists operating with specific roles, organized travel, and meticulously planned logistics. The warrants were served at their respective homes; the two are currently being held in Poggioreale prison.
Those arrested are Domenico Tolomelli, 37, from the Sanità district, and Gianfranco Cecere, 47, from the Spanish Quarter. Both are already known to law enforcement and, in the eyes of investigators, belong to the category of "transfers": people who travel short distances to strike where surveillance and the victims' routines facilitate theft.
According to the prosecution, the two allegedly committed two robberies in Viale Fulvio Testi (Milan) on February 5th and 12th of the current year: in one case a Rolex with an estimated value of around 25.000 euros, in the other a vintage watch of value not quantified by the owner.
Investigators noted the same modus operandi used in a previous heist in 2021, when—also on Viale Testi—a Richard Mille valued at over 200.000 euros was stolen from a Ferrari businessman.
The technique: repeated pattern, assigned roles
The dynamic is always the same and carefully planned: two scooters spring into action. One stands at a distance and acts as an observer/attacher; the other causes lateral contact with the vehicle (the "damaged" mirror), while a man gets out, approaches the window—often with the excuse of checking the damage—and snatches the victim's watch as he lowers his hand. The payoff is often rapid, and the escape is immediate.
The arrests were made after comparing the new images with those from previous investigations, placing tracking devices on the suspects' vehicles, and carrying out local surveillance. Investigators also reconstructed the logistical and organizational network: apartments rented with third-party documents, scooters registered to front men with no criminal record, and trips planned to last a few hours or a few days.
Why do they call them “specialists”?
It's not just a matter of skill at instant heists: for the Flying Squad, the two were no amateurs because: they always repeated the same scheme with minimal variations; they used logistical bases (rented houses, hidden scooters) and front men to minimize direct ties to the city where they struck; they chose "visible" targets (luxury cars, victims on the street, areas with traffic jams such as traffic lights) and operated in pairs with pre-established roles. Investigators believe these aspects betray organization and specialization.
It might interest you
Bars and fists in the garage of horror: 11 investigated for torture and kidnapping, including minors.
Break-in in Sant'Antimo: jewelry store attacked, residents throw objects from balconies to stop the gang
Pomigliano, the "hole gang's" tunnel has been discovered: the bank robbery fails.
Camorra: The Horseman's Sons Flaunted Video Calls with the Boss on Social Media
The thread that leads to 2021
The investigations also linked the two to an incident in March 2021, when a Richard Mille worth over €200.000 was stolen from a Ferrari driver on Viale Testi in Milan. At the time, the suspects were already being treated by investigators as "travelers," and the same logistical practices later observed in more recent robberies were uncovered.
Coordinated action between prosecutors and the mobility of groups
The investigation is an example of collaboration between agencies (the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office and Milanese law enforcement) and local mobile squads (the Naples one also intervened in the execution). The widespread use of cameras and photographic/video confirmations at the stations (the two were filmed returning to the train after the robberies) helped close the circle.
The context: these are not isolated cases
In recent years, raids against owners of high-end watches have become widespread, often resulting in media coverage that shapes the perception of the phenomenon. Some iconic incidents:
Cesara Buonamici (April 24, 2021, Florence) —The TG5 journalist and her husband were approached and robbed in their car; the criminals stole valuable watches (Patek, Cartier). Here too, the lead stemmed from organizations that mobilized resources and personnel to carry out the robbery and return home.
Charles Leclerc (Easter Monday 2022, Viareggio) — A Richard Mille watch valued at around €2 million was stolen from the Formula 1 driver: it was a sensational heist that led to subsequent investigations and arrests of the alleged perpetrators. The incident demonstrated how thieves choose "high-visibility" targets and employ rapid distraction methods, such as asking for selfies.
The theft in Capri (summer 2025) — In the nightlife of the island of Capri, a member of the United Kingdom's House of Lords was stalked and robbed of a Richard Mille watch estimated to be worth hundreds of thousands of euros. The case has reignited concerns about gangs operating in tourist destinations with high concentrations of VIPs and luxury tourists.
These episodes show the spectrum: from "on sight" theft (requesting a selfie, slipping through a crowd) to robberies carried out using means and techniques (mirror, scooter), up to groups planning trips and support bases.
The arrest of Tolomelli and Cecere is useful because it sheds light on the structure behind a type of crime that has become professionalized: "away" movements, support bases, and vehicles registered to front men.
Comments (1)
It's strange how people do these things and don't consider the consequences. Watch thieves are increasingly organized, and it seems like no one can stop them, even with all the cameras around. A worrying phenomenon.