Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has had a watch worth an estimated $320,000 stolen while out with friends in Italy.
Leclerc had been spending Monday evening in Viareggio, around 128 miles south of Ferrari’s base in Maranello, and he was in the Via Salvatori part of the city.
This area, according to Leclerc’s trainer Andrea Ferrari, is notoriously unlit, making it easy for thieves to steal valuable items and sneak off unnoticed.
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Indeed, Leclerc and his group were spotted by a handful of locals locals and, while the majority will have simply made their way over for a few selfies, one of them had more sinister intentions.
They stole a Richard Mille watch from the Monegasque’s wrist, and managed to slip away before Leclerc had even noticed it was missing.
Ferrari was understandably livid with the lack of lighting in the area that facilitates such clandestine behaviour, and called on the local authorities to introduce more street lamps and make the area more secure.
“Via Salvatori has been completely in the dark for months. We have been reporting this for months,” he posted in an Instagram story, tagging the Instagram page of the municipality of Viareggio.
“Well, yesterday evening in Via Salvatori, they have robbed us. Think of arranging the lamps sooner or later? Asking for a friend.”
McLaren driver Lando Norris also had a watch stolen after watching England’s Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy last summer, and his team said he was “shaken” after the ordeal.
The 22-year-old revealed his “shock” at being targeted by the thugs.
“The difficult thing is the shock of realising it can happen to anyone including yourself when you never think it will happen to you, or it’s a very slim chance,” he said.
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“The shock that you can still be vulnerable in any position, it’s a scary thing and I don’t wish it on anyone.
“I have not been sleeping that great and I am feeling a bit sore,” he added, indicating that some force had been used to steal his watch from him.