BOCA RATON – A stolen Rolex watch led Boca Raton Police detectives from Boca Raton to Miami, to Ebay, and finally to Peru.
Police reports say the case started back in March when the theft victim reported that he believed his roommate stole two of his Rolex watches valued at $5,000. The roommate, Arthur Braun, 24, was no longer living with the victim and his whereabouts were unknown.
A search was conducted at pawn shops in Broward, Dade and Palm Beach counties, based upon the serial number provided by the victim and by the name of the suspect, police said. Though no transactions were found, investigators determined the watch had been sold to a man who knew Braun through rehab.
The man, who told police he thought the watch was a replica, bought it for $200 and had it serviced. When he found out it was real, he decided to sell it on Ebay and received $3,161 for it from Michel Ipenza.
The watch was shipped to a Miami address. When investigators went to the address, they learned that Ipenza lived in Peru and the Miami shipping address belonged to a friend.
Further investigation, police said, revealed that the friend had taken the watch to Ipenza when she visited him on a recent trip to Peru. When Ipenza learned the watch was stolen, he contacted Boca Raton investigators and agreed to send it back.
Arrest warrants were filed for Arthur Braun on August 3 charging him with second degree felony, dealing in stolen property.