Las Vegas man charged in $140K Strip watch theft

Las Vegas man charged in $140,000 Strip watch theft Joseph Jackson, 39, was arrested and charged after allegedly stealing three luxury watches valued at a total of $140,000 from a Philipp Plein boutique on the Las Vegas Strip. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, Jackson and an unidentified woman entered the store located at The Shops at Crystals, 3720 Las Vegas Boulevard South, on a Wednesday afternoon. Police said the pair distracted an employee, after which Jackson took three watches from display: a Crypto King Gold Goliath timepiece priced at $29,800 and two Crypto King Flying Tourbillon watches, each valued at $55,200. Surveillance video captured the theft and showed the suspects leaving the store and entering a cab outside the Aria Resort. Additional footage from inside the cab was also recovered. Police quoted investigators as saying, “While holding and wearing the watches, the man shows the woman 1 of the watches price tags as to observe the worth of what he stole.” Officers later located the duo at the intersection of Resorts World Drive and Sammy Davis Jr. Drive. The woman was taken into custody without incident, while Jackson fled on foot. He was subsequently found hiding in nearby bushes and arrested. At the time of his arrest, Jackson was wearing one of the stolen watches; the remaining two were recovered from his pocket. Court documents indicate Jackson faces charges of participating in an organized retail theft ring, committing theft of property valued at $100,000 or more, and using another person’s identification to avoid or delay prosecution. Police also noted that Jackson was subject to an unrelated Clark County warrant alleging battery causing serious bodily harm. After reviewing the evidence, Clark County prosecutors declined to file charges against the woman. She stated she was unaware that Jackson intended to steal the watches.