Holiday ruined by mugging

Thieves stole valuable watch in violent incident in Alicante city

A BRITISH tourist who was the victim of a violent mugging has issued an appeal over his stolen watch.

Christopher Kelly from Caldy, The Wirral, Merseyside visited Alicante city with his family over Easter.

He noted that he had come for a short break as they had not had a holiday for two years due to the pandemic and they thought Spain ‘would be a good place to visit’.

The self-employed businessman and his wife and daughter had been out for a meal in the city on Saturday, April 16, and were returning to their hotel on the seafront, near the port.

They were only around 100 metres from Hotel Meliá when Mr Kelly reported that he was set upon by two men.

The 54 year old said that he was punched and kicked in a sustained attack, during which they stole his watch.

Mr Kelly noted that he had treated himself to the gold Rolex Yacht-Master II two years ago after building up his business over more than 30 years.

It had cost him £35,500, he stated.

He reported the theft and assault to the National Police, noting that unfortunately the timepiece was not insured.

Mr Kelly told Costa Blanca News that the incident had ruined their short holiday, which was made worse by the lack of interest which he said was shown when he reported the crime.

“I never thought in a million years that something like this would happen in Spain and that I should not have worn the watch,” he said.

Mr Kelly explained that he wanted to publicise the details of his watch ‘to make people aware that if they get offered this watch, it is stolen’.

The series number of the Rolex is L873G441, model 116688 and it was bought on 06.05.2020

Anyone who has any information about the watch is asked to contact Mr Kelly via his email at samantha kelly5@hotmail.com