What’s Going On: Miami “Rolex Robbers” Update
Armed Robberies Targeting Watch Wearers
- Two suspects—Dwight Gustave (30) and Adria Banks (41)—were arrested Monday following a multi-agency investigation by Miami Beach Police in coordination with the City of Miami Police, and the Miami‑Dade and Broward Sheriff’s Offices .
- They are accused of surveilling nightclub patrons (e.g., leaving from LIV Nightclub) and robbing them at gunpoint after following them to their destinations .
- At least three robberies were in Miami Beach and one in Miami proper. Victims lost luxury watches including:
- A Rolex (value reported up to $80,000) .
- An Audemars Piguet Skeleton worth about $60,000 .
- Another Audemars Piguet watch valued at about $140,000 and a Rolex Sky‑Dweller worth $20,000 recovered from a search of Gustave’s residence, along with $16,400 in cash—totaling over $176,000 in stolen goods.
- Banks allegedly served as the getaway driver and is currently on probation for previous high-end jewelry thefts exceeding $500,000. Gustave was previously incarcerated for robbery-related offenses in 2020 and was released in May .
Other Notable Watch Robberies in Miami
- Miramar Incident (Unsolved): A man was shot and robbed of a $30,000 Rolex in a Miramar apartment complex. The suspect remains at large as of early August .
- Hospital Theft (Internal): A Miami hospital employee was arrested for stealing a patient’s $45,000 Rolex Presidential from the hospital—caught on internal surveillance and charged with grand theft and exploitation of an elderly person .
- “Bad Date” Thefts: In June/July, Esther Maria Torres, 20, was arrested for pepper-spraying men at Miami Beach hotels (Breakwater and Fontainebleau Hotels) and stealing luxury watches such as a Hugo Boss and a $22,000 Rolex Submariner. Despite these crimes, she received five years of probation, avoiding prison.
