Thieves used underhanded tactics to steal tennis ace Grigor Dimitrov his $114,000 (US$76,000) luxury watch as he returned home from training in Barcelona.
The 32-year-old Bulgarian star, who is currently in the Spanish city for the Barcelona Open, was targeted by criminals following his motorbike vehicle.
Reports say a male passenger on the motorcycle hit the side mirror of Dimitrov’s car while in traffic on a busy street.
The world number 25 reached out the window to readjust the mirror and the thieves struck, ripping the luxury watch from his wrist.
The watch in question is described as a Swiss Bianchet – which is valued at around $114,000 (US$76,000).
Thieves used a clever tactic to steal tennis ace Grigor Dimitrov his $114,000 (US$76,000) luxury watch as he returned home from training in Barcelona
The world number 25 had reached out his car window to readjust the rear view mirror when the thieves struck, ripping the luxury watch from his wrist
Dimitrov reported the crime to local police, who suspect the tennis star was targeted by professional thieves from Naples.
Professional athletes have been targeted in Barcelona by thieves lately.
Last year, four-time F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel chased thieves through the city streets on a scooter looking for his stolen bag.
According to reports in Catalan newspaper El Periodico, the German driver used the GPS signal from his AirPods headphones that were inside the bag using the Find My iPhone app.
After tracing the signal, Vettel managed to hit the right spot on the map.
But although he found his headphones where his iPhone pointed, the bag and the rest of its contents were nowhere to be found.
Barcelona footballer Robert Lewandowski also had his luxury watch ripped off as he signed autographs outside the club’s Ciutat Esportiva training ground last year.
Dimitrov is well known for being one of the most stylish players on the tour and is used to dating high-profile women, including American champion sports star Serena Williams.
Dimitrov reported the crime to local police, who suspect the tennis star was targeted by professional thieves from Naples
Dimitrov is well known for being one of the most stylish players on the tour and is used to dating high-profile women including American champion sports star Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova (pictured)
Between 2013 and 2015, he also had a serious relationship with former Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova.
After their split, he had a long-distance romance with Hawaiian beauty and Australian Got Talent judge Nicole Scherzinger for five years between late 2015 and 2020.
After a first-round bye, Dimitrov will face the winner of the match between Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Emilio Gomez on Thursday at the Barcelona Open.