Chile Returns Stolen Luxury Watches to FBI for Keanu Reeves

Chilean authorities announced on March 12, 2024, that they have handed over six luxury watches, including an engraved Rolex valued at approximately $9,500, to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). These watches were stolen from Canadian actor Keanu Reeves during a series of high-profile burglaries in December 2023. The recovery of the watches occurred months after they were seized in a police raid in Santiago, the capital of Chile.

The FBI is now responsible for facilitating the return of the watches to Reeves, known for his roles in iconic action franchises such as “The Matrix” and “John Wick.” Chilean prosecutors reported that Reeves was able to identify the watches as his property, which were taken from his home in Los Angeles.

Authorities revealed that the total value of the recovered watches amounts to approximately $125,000, according to Marcelo Varas, an officer with Chile’s robbery investigation squad. The watches surfaced during an operation targeting a network of burglaries linked to organized crime groups operating between South America and the United States.

Background on the Burglaries

The police operation that led to the recovery of Reeves’ watches was part of a broader investigation into a series of burglaries targeting multimillion-dollar homes in the United States. These crimes have primarily affected celebrities and high-profile individuals, including Travis Kelce, a player for the Kansas City Chiefs.

In April 2024, Chilean police announced the arrest of 23 individuals believed to be connected to these burglaries. The investigation, which involved coordination with the FBI, aimed to dismantle crime networks that have been increasingly targeting affluent neighborhoods.

The timing of this announcement coincided with the visit of Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security for the U.S. government, to Chile. Noem’s trip included discussions with Chilean officials concerning transnational crime and security issues. It is noteworthy that Noem herself was a victim of a robbery attributed to a Chilean national residing illegally in the U.S. last year, when her purse was stolen in a Washington restaurant.

As investigations continue, authorities remain focused on determining any connections between the theft of Reeves’ watches and the larger pattern of high-profile burglaries. The recovery of these watches not only represents a significant win for law enforcement but also highlights the ongoing challenges posed by organized crime in both Chile and the United States.