Armed Robbers Go After Vegas Jeweler Again, Swipe Pricey Timepieces From Uber Ride This Time
A jeweler from California encountered more trouble in Las Vegas after attending a jewelry show last Tuesday. Raimond Irimescu from Sacramento was at the International Watch and Jewelry Guild Show at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Resort & Casino, accompanied by a bag full of expensive watches. Instead of shipping them back or traveling with a group, he decided to take an Uber.
At around 5:15 pm, the Uber driver stopped at a red light on Paradise Road near Tropicana Avenue. Suddenly, a white minivan pulled up in front, while an SUV parked behind them. Four masked men, all wearing black, emerged from the vehicles.
They punctured the tires of the Uber and broke two of its windows with a baseball bat. The robbers also pointed a gun and a stun gun at both Irimescu and the Uber driver. The robber with the stun gun used it on Irimescu, while another pointed a gun. The thieves then made off with the bag holding the expensive watches.
The police haven't disclosed the value of the stolen watches. Irimescu has experienced something similar before, in October 2021. That time, he was also at a jewelry show, this time at the Tropicana Las Vegas, which has since closed. He departed from the show with his watch collection and got into a Toyota operated by an Uber driver.
Two vehicles blocked the Toyota: a white minivan in front and an SUV in back. Between four and six assailants dressed in black clothes, black hoodies, gloves, and black and white masks approached the vehicle. It's believed at least one of them was armed with a gun.
The Uber driver was stabbed in the hand, causing Irimescu to worry about his safety. The suspects slashed the tires and broke the windows of the Toyota as well. They took two suitcases and a backpack containing the watches, escaping with $1M worth of high-end watches. The collection included 40 vintage watches like a Rolex, Harry Winston, and Patek Philippe. The Rolex was valued at $95K. They also swiped $15K in cash and a laptop from the Uber.
Irimescu, the owner of Paul’s Watch Repair, sued Tropicana and Uber following the 2021 robbery, alleging they didn't do enough to prevent such incidents and failed to provide proper security. Neither business responded when the lawsuit was announced. So far, neither the suspects in this week's robbery nor the one in 2021 have been apprehended by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD). It's unclear if the LVMPD has any possible suspects in mind. In both robberies, Irimescu was apparently the target.
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