Luxury Watch Heists at the 2025 US Grand Prix: The Richard Mille Robberies
The roar of Formula 1 engines at Austin's Circuit of the Americas (COTA) typically signals high-octane excitement, but during the October, 2025, US Grand Prix weekend, it also masked a sharper kind of speed: a coordinated theft ring targeting luxury timepieces.
At the center? Viviana Garzon-Olarte, a 39-year-old from Las Vegas, charged in a scheme that netted at least two Richard Mille watches, each valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Backed by a group of unidentified accomplices, the operation exploited the event's chaos, turning chivalry into a costly distraction. Below, we break down the facts, figures, and patterns, drawing from police affidavits, court records, and industry data. No judgments here, just the timeline, the tactics, and the troubling trend.
The Incidents: A Weekend of Calculated Chaos
The heists unfolded amid the pre-race festivities, where over 440,000 attendees flooded COTA and downtown Austin, per event organizers Liberty Media. Attendance marked a 12% uptick from 2024's 392,000, injecting an estimated $1.1 billion into the local economy via tickets, hospitality, and tourism.
- First Robbery: October 18, 6:45 PM A male attendee, exiting a lounge area near COTA, encountered a woman who "fell directly in front of him," according to the Austin Police Department (APD) affidavit. As he paused to assist, several men in their 20s assaulted him, ripping a Richard Mille watch from his wrist. The victim reported the theft later, after noticing the absence. No immediate arrest followed, but the incident clocked in under the event's peak crowd density: COTA's infield areas saw up to 120,000 people per hour that evening, per traffic analytics from INRIX.
- Second Robbery: October 19, 5:00 PM History rhymed with robbery. Another man, heading to a parking lot, faced the same ploy: a woman fell ahead, grabbed his arm upon approach, and a group of men swarmed, yanking off his Richard Mille. ___ This time, the first victim spotted the crew recognizing the woman and alerted bystanders. The second victim subdued her until APD arrived. Total time from distraction to dash?
Under 30 seconds, based on witness statements in the affidavit.
Both watches? High-end Richard Mille models, retailing from $150,000 to $2 million apiece, depending on complications like tourbillons or skeletonized dials, per the brand's 2025 catalog. Aggregate value: At minimum, $300,000; potentially exceeding $1 million if custom variants.
The Arrest: Cracking the Distraction Playbook
Viviana Garzon-Olarte, 39, was detained on October 19 and booked into Travis County Jail. Hailing from Las Vegas—home to 2024's highest luxury theft rate at 2.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, per FBI Uniform Crime Reporting—she faced three felony charges: two counts of second-degree robbery (up to 20 years each) and one for engaging in organized criminal activity (a third-degree felony, punishable by 2-10 years). Bond? $10,000 per count, totaling $30,000; she remains in custody as of October 26, 2025.
APD's probe uncovered digital breadcrumbs: Garzon-Olarte's phone held a 9:00 PM October 18 timestamped photo and video gallery of the first stolen Richard Mille, plus an Airbnb booking in Lago Vista
Richard Mille's Risky Allure
Grand Prix F1 2025 in Austin
Richard Mille watches aren't just accessories; they're engineering feats disguised as jewelry, with prices averaging $250,000 globally in 2025, up 18% from 2024 amid a 22% surge in high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) snapping them up, per Knight Frank's Wealth Report. Their carbon-titanium cases and skeleton dials—often customized for F1 stars—make them resale gold: Black-market flips yield 60-80% of retail, per Interpol's 2024 luxury crime bulletin.
F1 events? Prime hunting grounds.
As the checkered flag waves on the 2025 Formula 1 campaign
Star Max Verstappen, the 26-year-old Brit, clawed into the championship lead post:
read more about the f1 events: US Grand Prix result: Max Verstappen wins in Austin with Lando Norris second and Oscar Piastri fifth - BBC Sport
