Five Suspects Arrested in Connection with Violent £1 Million Watch Burglary
Police in Nottinghamshire have made a significant breakthrough in the investigation of a terrifying burglary that saw a homeowner attacked with a sledgehammer and a collection of rare luxury watches worth approximately £1 million stolen. Four men and one woman have been arrested in connection with the incident, which occurred on December 4 at a property in Kimberley, Nottinghamshire.
Violent Home Invasion and Theft
The victim, Matthew Simpson, 57, was at home with his wife when two masked men dressed entirely in black smashed their way into the property. The intruders, armed with a sledgehammer and a pickaxe, stormed into the kitchen where the couple were watching television and preparing dinner. Mr Simpson was immediately attacked with the sledgehammer before the assailants demanded to know the whereabouts of his watch collection.
Forced to retrieve the safe keys, Mr Simpson opened the safe as the offenders filled a sack with a large quantity of luxury timepieces. Simultaneously, his wife was physically dragged upstairs by other members of the gang and compelled to reveal the location of additional watches stored in the house.
Stolen Items: Rare Watches and Designer Handbags
The stolen collection included several highly exclusive and limited-edition watches that Mr Simpson had amassed over more than two decades. Among the items taken were:
- An Audemars Piguet Royal Oak QP perpetual calendar, released in February 2025 in very limited quantities, featuring a smoky-blue 'Grande Tapisserie' dial.
- A Rolex 'Platona' Daytona Cosmograph, reference 126506, crafted entirely from platinum with a unique ice-blue lacquered dial.
- An Omega Speedmaster 'Snoopy' 50th anniversary special edition, issued in 2020 as a highly limited release.
- A pair of matching ladies and gents Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 'London' editions.
In addition to the watches, the burglars stole a number of designer handbags from brands including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, Jimmy Choo, and Dior. The most distinctive handbag was a white Chanel 'Boy' handbag, a style available exclusively from Milan, made of quilted white leather with a rigid top handle bearing the Chanel name.
Police Investigation and Arrests
Nottinghamshire Police revealed that four men aged between 18 and 24, along with a 33-year-old woman, have been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation. The arrests include:
- An 18-year-old man arrested on suspicion of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and possession with intent to supply cannabis.
- Men aged 21 and 23 arrested on suspicion of robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.
- A 24-year-old man arrested on suspicion of burglary.
- A 33-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery and possession of cocaine.
All five suspects have been released on conditional bail while inquiries continue. Detective Inspector Simon Harrison of Nottinghamshire Police stated, 'While the arrests of these five suspects are a significant development, our inquiries are very much ongoing into this appalling crime. Our hard work continues in this investigation to bring those responsible to justice.'
Victim's Account and Investigation Details
Mr Simpson and his wife, 53, who chose not to disclose her first name, believe the attack was 'absolutely not random' and suspect that someone who knows them was involved. The couple, who run a heating company, noted that the gang could not have discovered the extent of their collection through social media, as they do not share images of their watches or bags online and very few people were aware of the collection.
The burglars also stole a mobile phone and a purse containing bank cards during the raid. CCTV footage from the couple's home captured the men, and automatic number plate recognition identified a grey hatchback vehicle with false number plates on the nearby A610 at the time of the attack. The vehicle is believed to have travelled through Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, and into the West Midlands region after leaving Nottinghamshire.
Sentimental Value and Ongoing Efforts
For Mr Simpson, the stolen watches held not only substantial monetary value but also deep sentimental significance. 'They came for the watches pure and simple,' he said. 'The watches were a passion of mine and something that I have built over 20 odd years. They are not things you can just go out and buy, there is a lot of research that goes into them. They are generational things and I took a bit of pride in the fact that when I am no longer here my son could be walking around with a watch and that would have been his dad's watch.'
The serial numbers of the watches are registered with The Watch Register, meaning any legitimate sale would be flagged to police. Crimestoppers has offered a reward of up to £7,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for this violent and high-value burglary.
