If you’re planning a luxury getaway, a new assessment highlights why extra caution is needed. According to UnitedHealthcare Global and Solace Global Risk, high-value items such as watches, jewelry and designer bags are increasingly targeted by criminals even in destinations considered low risk.
The Growing Threat
Luxury theft isn’t new but its methods, scale and sophistication have escalated in recent years. Post-COVID tourism surges, rising resale demand and the value of precious metals have made high-end items a prime target.
Crimes often occur just outside or within five-star hotels, exclusive restaurants and high-street boutiques, places travelers might assume are safe. In 2023, for example, half of the 29,000 watches stolen in the UK were taken in London’s wealthier neighborhoods. Insurance claims for high-end jewelry theft also surged, with Aviva reporting a 43 percent increase in early 2024.
Other hotspots include Barcelona, the French Riviera, Monaco, Ibiza and major Italian cities like Milan, Rome and Naples. Criminals are increasingly organized, often operating within transnational networks that plan thefts with precision and resell stolen goods internationally.
How Criminals Are Targeting Travelers
The assessment notes several trends:
- Social Media Surveillance: Criminals track potential victims online to plan thefts.
- Sophisticated Coordination: Groups hire teams remotely, providing equipment, transport and instructions.
- Exploiting Assumptions: Travelers in luxury settings often display reduced situational awareness, relying on perceived security.
- Difficulty Recovering Assets: Many high-value items have no serial numbers or documentation, making recovery nearly impossible.
In 2025, authorities in Italy, Spain and France dismantled a luxury theft network in Ibiza where two organizers directed street thieves remotely, showing how professional and cross-border these operations have become.
Traveler Tips for Staying Safe
UnitedHealthcare Global and Solace Global Risk recommend the following for high-net-worth travelers:
- Document Your Valuables: Keep serial numbers, photos and receipts of watches, jewelry and designer items.
- Limit Display: Avoid openly wearing or carrying high-value items, especially in crowded tourist areas.
- Secure Belongings: Use hotel safes or secure storage whenever possible.
- Stay Vigilant: Even in five-star settings, maintain awareness of your surroundings.
- Use Trusted Transport: Prefer private or verified transportation instead of public taxis in luxury destinations.
Global tourism recovery sustained demand for luxury goods and sophisticated criminal networks are likely to increase the risk of luxury theft in 2026. Awareness, documentation and cautious behavior remain the best defenses for travelers.
