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12:42pm Tuesday 14th February 2012 in News
A STREET cleaner struck gold in Leigh - when he found a gold Rolex watch.
The 28-year-old Cory worker was cleaning a drain near to Leigh-on-sea train station at around 1.30pm on Friday, February 10, when amongst the dirt he came across a watch.
Upon cleaning it and consulting a jeweller, he found the watch was an 18-carat gold Rolex.
He handed it over at Rayleigh police station the following Monday and the owner has 30 days to reclaim it.
But enquiries using the serial number show that this watch has not been registered as lost or stolen, so police are now trying to locate the rightful owner.
The yellow gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph is from the Daytona collection has an estimated value of around £21,000.
Anyone with information should call PC Calley Mackay at Southend police station on 101.
Comments(87)
The Cater Wood Creeper
says...
1:01pm Tue 14 Feb 12
has not been registered as lost or stolen
clairebartlett
says...
1:33pm Tue 14 Feb 12
xxxdave
says...
1:45pm Tue 14 Feb 12
barrylabs
says...
2:18pm Tue 14 Feb 12
xxxdave
says...
2:20pm Tue 14 Feb 12
naughtyladyofshadylane
says...
2:21pm Tue 14 Feb 12
bumper
says...
2:32pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Blind Haze
says...
2:36pm Tue 14 Feb 12
naughtyladyofshadylaI bet you could find one or two unscrupulous pawn shops in Southend who'd give you £10,000 cash no questions asked - I won't mention their names though as I think that'd cause this post to be removed!
ne wrote:
No its mine!! i can describe it too!!. Seriously you would have to hand it in,how could you do anything with it otherswise, it has a serial number they say above! I would not want a watch like that anyway, what is the point, doesn't tell the time any better ! Hope the Echo keeps us up to speed on this, and hope the cleaner gets to keep it !
Nebs
says...
3:19pm Tue 14 Feb 12
emcee
says...
3:33pm Tue 14 Feb 12
naughtyladyofshadylaIf unclaimed after the specified amount of time the finder is entitled to have the item back to do with as they wish. This seems to be 30 days, according to the article.
ne wrote:
No its mine!! i can describe it too!!. Seriously you would have to hand it in,how could you do anything with it otherswise, it has a serial number they say above! I would not want a watch like that anyway, what is the point, doesn't tell the time any better ! Hope the Echo keeps us up to speed on this, and hope the cleaner gets to keep it !
Mr Chips
says...
3:38pm Tue 14 Feb 12
naughtyladyofshadylane
says...
4:13pm Tue 14 Feb 12
The Yellow Peril
says...
4:24pm Tue 14 Feb 12
The Cater Wood Creeper
says...
4:28pm Tue 14 Feb 12
clairebartlett wrote:found a purse in Gloucester Park in the summer with more dough in it than I had in the bank at the time and with loads of bank cards. There was a name but no address. Marched straight over to the Police Station and handed it all in.
its not very often that you come across someone who is honest enough to hand stuff in to the police. If no one claims it within the 30 days, I think it should be given to the guy who found it!
The Cater Wood Creeper
says...
4:32pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Mr Chips
says...
4:37pm Tue 14 Feb 12
The Yellow Peril wrote:I would guess that it would have to be reported lost to be able to claim on the insurance - from previous dealings with insurance companies they'd find any way not to pay!
Might have been lost for the insurance? Then again, you wouldn't throw it down a drain would you? You'd hide it somewhere safer than that surely?
Duck Egg
says...
4:37pm Tue 14 Feb 12
themarinadog
says...
4:51pm Tue 14 Feb 12
themarinadog
says...
4:51pm Tue 14 Feb 12
APR
says...
4:51pm Tue 14 Feb 12
themarinadog
says...
4:51pm Tue 14 Feb 12
themarinadog
says...
4:52pm Tue 14 Feb 12
naughtyladyofshadylane
says...
4:52pm Tue 14 Feb 12
boyracer_20yrs old
says...
4:55pm Tue 14 Feb 12
naughtyladyofshadylane
says...
4:56pm Tue 14 Feb 12
naughtyladyofshadylane
says...
4:58pm Tue 14 Feb 12
romeo017
says...
4:58pm Tue 14 Feb 12
watnocky
says...
4:58pm Tue 14 Feb 12
naughtyladyofshadylane
says...
5:01pm Tue 14 Feb 12
The Cater Wood Creeper
says...
5:03pm Tue 14 Feb 12
naughtyladyofshadylano rewards.
ne wrote:
Cater Wood Creeper, did you get any rewards?? bet you wont say but do you live in caterwood? To romeo, well a jeweller has looked at it?? I wonder how anyone could now claim it, prove its theirs?
Chap
says...
5:04pm Tue 14 Feb 12
reptile
says...
5:14pm Tue 14 Feb 12
boyracer_20yrs old
says...
5:52pm Tue 14 Feb 12
naughtyladyofshadylaIts called a receipt.
ne wrote:
Cater Wood Creeper, did you get any rewards?? bet you wont say but do you live in caterwood? To romeo, well a jeweller has looked at it?? I wonder how anyone could now claim it, prove its theirs?
muffindamule
says...
6:03pm Tue 14 Feb 12
jolllyboy
says...
6:12pm Tue 14 Feb 12
naughtyladyofshadylane
says...
6:27pm Tue 14 Feb 12
leigh-my-town
says...
6:32pm Tue 14 Feb 12
muffindamule
says...
6:35pm Tue 14 Feb 12
naughtyladyofshadylaThose Germans have a lot going for them you know. Ask any Greek;-).
ne wrote:
wotnoky? what did you not like ?
Caterwood Creeper, no rewards? !, so would you do it the same again? Would you have said if you had lived there? Hw did you come up wth your name then? Chap, I would guess it was valued locally?? Reptile, I think that was a terrible way for the police to have acted, apart from yes, your disappointment!! So what is the point of the 30 day then? Boyracer dont get cocky, there are nicer ways of saying something! OK ! do you keep all your receipts for ever!! If one can lose a valuable item, like that, its careless, so do you reckon they can take care of a flimsy paper receipt??muffindamul
e, that sounds good, someone else on another case last week sang praises of Germany over something else.. Hmm
BIRLIS
says...
6:55pm Tue 14 Feb 12
boyracer_20yrs old wrote:Nice. Glad he found it, not you.
Fairplay to this man for handing it in to the police, but I dont think id hand in a £21,000 rolex. Not many people actually would I dont think? Id be straight down town to cash it in!
The Cater Wood Creeper
says...
6:57pm Tue 14 Feb 12
naughtyladyofshadylayes, I'd do it again
ne wrote:
wotnoky? what did you not like ? Caterwood Creeper, no rewards? !, so would you do it the same again? Would you have said if you had lived there? Hw did you come up wth your name then? Chap, I would guess it was valued locally?? Reptile, I think that was a terrible way for the police to have acted, apart from yes, your disappointment!! So what is the point of the 30 day then? Boyracer dont get cocky, there are nicer ways of saying something! OK ! do you keep all your receipts for ever!! If one can lose a valuable item, like that, its careless, so do you reckon they can take care of a flimsy paper receipt??muffindamul e, that sounds good, someone else on another case last week sang praises of Germany over something else.. Hmm
BIRLIS
says...
6:59pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Chap wrote:A quick look in the current Rolex catalogue shows that gold Daytonas very in price, depending on the exact spec, but are all north of £20k.
Kudos to the Cory chap for handing it in - many wouldn't have done.
And as for the £21,000 valuation? Ridiculous! I don't believe for a minute that it is worth even half that. I wonder who valued it?
Soouthchurch59
says...
7:16pm Tue 14 Feb 12
BIRLIS wrote:It's down to the dramatic rise in gold prices!
Chap wrote:A quick look in the current Rolex catalogue shows that gold Daytonas very in price, depending on the exact spec, but are all north of £20k.
Kudos to the Cory chap for handing it in - many wouldn't have done.
And as for the £21,000 valuation? Ridiculous! I don't believe for a minute that it is worth even half that. I wonder who valued it?
Last Poster
says...
7:19pm Tue 14 Feb 12
BIRLIS
says...
7:24pm Tue 14 Feb 12
BIRLIS
says...
7:26pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Soouthchurch59 wrote:Very true.
BIRLIS wrote:It's down to the dramatic rise in gold prices!
Chap wrote:A quick look in the current Rolex catalogue shows that gold Daytonas very in price, depending on the exact spec, but are all north of £20k.
Kudos to the Cory chap for handing it in - many wouldn't have done.
And as for the £21,000 valuation? Ridiculous! I don't believe for a minute that it is worth even half that. I wonder who valued it?
Diannah
says...
7:49pm Tue 14 Feb 12
APR wrote:You are absolutely right. I found a necklace a couple of years ago and handed it in to the police. When I went back to reclaim it, the police didn't know anything about it and told me that I should have held on to it rather than leave it at the station.
I was under the impression that the police no longer operated a lost and found service ? I would have reported it to the police and given my mobile number, but hung on to the watch.
APR
says...
7:53pm Tue 14 Feb 12
billericay boy
says...
8:10pm Tue 14 Feb 12
muffindamule
says...
8:16pm Tue 14 Feb 12
APR wrote:Judging by the time shown it seems unlikely that the photo was taken at the offices of The Echo unless they were working overtime on this story.
Indeed, silly idea to publish a picture, if indeed that is a picture of the watch in question.
naughtyladyofshadylane
says...
9:54pm Tue 14 Feb 12
emcee
says...
10:14pm Tue 14 Feb 12
boyracer_20yrs old wrote:According to the survey at the top of this article, most people would hand it in. So, your idea that "not many" would hand it in seems to be wrong.
Fairplay to this man for handing it in to the police, but I dont think id hand in a £21,000 rolex. Not many people actually would I dont think? Id be straight down town to cash it in!
muffindamule
says...
10:15pm Tue 14 Feb 12
naughtyladyofshadylane
says...
10:18pm Tue 14 Feb 12
muffindamule
says...
10:18pm Tue 14 Feb 12
emcee wrote:Trouble is the survey refers to a watch worth 22,000. The result may have been different had it asked about one worth only 21,000. ;-)
boyracer_20yrs old wrote:According to the survey at the top of this article, most people would hand it in. So, your idea that "not many" would hand it in seems to be wrong.
Fairplay to this man for handing it in to the police, but I dont think id hand in a £21,000 rolex. Not many people actually would I dont think? Id be straight down town to cash it in!
APR
says...
10:24pm Tue 14 Feb 12
APR
says...
10:28pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Southendman
says...
6:19am Wed 15 Feb 12
Broadwaywatch
says...
8:48am Wed 15 Feb 12
Southendman wrote:Thats rather a sweeping statement
Knowing the sort of arrogrant rich gits who live in Leigh and would wear this type of watch, if a guy does comes forward as the rightful owner the street cleaner shouldnt expect a word of thanks or a penny of reward!!!!!
Chap
says...
8:59am Wed 15 Feb 12
BIRLIS wrote:In that case, I stand corrected.
Chap wrote: Kudos to the Cory chap for handing it in - many wouldn't have done. And as for the £21,000 valuation? Ridiculous! I don't believe for a minute that it is worth even half that. I wonder who valued it?A quick look in the current Rolex catalogue shows that gold Daytonas very in price, depending on the exact spec, but are all north of £20k.
r6keith
says...
10:44am Wed 15 Feb 12
leigh-my-town wrote:At 21K I think my time piece would have four wheels and an engine !
For 21k I would want my watch to tell me the future and teleport me through time!!!!
UK Fan
says...
11:16am Wed 15 Feb 12
another bloke
says...
12:54pm Wed 15 Feb 12
naughtyladyofshadylane
says...
1:39pm Wed 15 Feb 12
ethel the frog
says...
2:23pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Broadwaywatch wrote:Unfortunately a lot of them are like that.
Southendman wrote:Thats rather a sweeping statement
Knowing the sort of arrogrant rich gits who live in Leigh and would wear this type of watch, if a guy does comes forward as the rightful owner the street cleaner shouldnt expect a word of thanks or a penny of reward!!!!!
naughtyladyofshadylane
says...
2:31pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Last Poster
says...
3:54pm Wed 15 Feb 12
BIRLIS wrote:I take it then you meant me as your post followed on from me.
What a stupid thing to say.
Sarah L H
says...
4:08pm Wed 15 Feb 12
naughtyladyofshadylane
says...
4:55pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Blind Haze
says...
5:02pm Wed 15 Feb 12
UK Fan wrote:The survey says that 60% of people would hand it in. Although what it doesn't say is where they would hand it in to - a large majority would probably be to a pawnbrokers.
Good to know that there are such honest people around and to the 40% that voted in favour of keeping it be advised, every Rolex has engraved serial numbers in at least one inconspicuous place that is not readily accessible and this is registered at the time of purchase to the rightful owner. Besides, it doesn't matter how much it is worth. If you find it, it does not mean it belongs to you. Always look at it from your own perspective if you for example lost your wallet, car keys, anything. I am sure you'd be delighted to have that returned to you.
Mr Chips
says...
5:09pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Blind Haze wrote:Joking aside, I do feel the these surveys are very spurious. What people would do in theory and what they would do in practice are often very different things. A good example is some of the motorists in Southend....
UK Fan wrote: Good to know that there are such honest people around and to the 40% that voted in favour of keeping it be advised, every Rolex has engraved serial numbers in at least one inconspicuous place that is not readily accessible and this is registered at the time of purchase to the rightful owner. Besides, it doesn't matter how much it is worth. If you find it, it does not mean it belongs to you. Always look at it from your own perspective if you for example lost your wallet, car keys, anything. I am sure you'd be delighted to have that returned to you.The survey says that 60% of people would hand it in. Although what it doesn't say is where they would hand it in to - a large majority would probably be to a pawnbrokers.
Diannah
says...
5:23pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Sarah L H wrote:I heard today that the same cleaner found a second Rolex watch and he was interviewed on theJeremy Vine show.
According to BBC news, a second Rolex plus 2 unbranded watches have also been found in that drain and one nearby. http://www.bbc.co.uk /news/uk-england-ess ex-17038519 Which makes me think there are some unlucky criminals about.
Sarah L H
says...
6:28pm Wed 15 Feb 12
naughtyladyofshadylane
says...
6:42pm Wed 15 Feb 12
BIRLIS
says...
7:13pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Last Poster wrote:Yes, I meant your post.
BIRLIS wrote:I take it then you meant me as your post followed on from me.
What a stupid thing to say.
Maybe because I missed an "F" off of "The well off" but other than that, how do you arrive at that conclusion. Do you think it is OK to pay £21,000 for a watch which does nothing except indicate the time? Or perhaps that "A fair days work should result in a fair days' pay? Or perhaps that the people the Tories love to call "The wealth creators" do nothing except make money out of money. Surely the true wealth creators are the artisans who actually have the skills to create the goods that others make their money out of. This world of ours is going through change. Perhaps the current position of the gamblers of both the stock market and the banks being part of the 10% of the world that have 90% of its wealth may change.
All only my opinion of course!
BIRLIS
says...
7:17pm Wed 15 Feb 12
r6keith wrote:A watch is likely to be a safer place for your money.
leigh-my-town wrote:At 21K I think my time piece would have four wheels and an engine !
For 21k I would want my watch to tell me the future and teleport me through time!!!!
BIRLIS
says...
7:17pm Wed 15 Feb 12
BIRLIS wrote:Unless you lose it!
r6keith wrote:A watch is likely to be a safer place for your money.
leigh-my-town wrote:At 21K I think my time piece would have four wheels and an engine !
For 21k I would want my watch to tell me the future and teleport me through time!!!!
Last Poster
says...
10:39pm Wed 15 Feb 12
BIRLIS wrote:Your opinion, and of course I too have mine but would not express is so rudely. Then, if you approve of that sort of thing whilst people who have worked hard all their lives are living below the bread line (through no fault of their own other than to be born in a country where selfish is king,) I suppose I should expect nothing else except rudeness from you! I won't comment on your view of "Deserved it" but I would love for you to go to Wakefield, visit the coal mining museum, where hard-working families (including 6-year-old kids) worked in appalling conditions for their slice of crust. Then, using honesty, tell me which was the more deserving, a fair days pay for a fair days work for these poor souls or the silver spooned horror "Earning" his first bonus. Then that's the way of the money grubbers I suppose. Please, though, try not call others stupid because they do not wish to see squander when there is so much squalor!
Last Poster wrote:Yes, I meant your post.
BIRLIS wrote:I take it then you meant me as your post followed on from me.
What a stupid thing to say.
Maybe because I missed an "F" off of "The well off" but other than that, how do you arrive at that conclusion. Do you think it is OK to pay £21,000 for a watch which does nothing except indicate the time? Or perhaps that "A fair days work should result in a fair days' pay? Or perhaps that the people the Tories love to call "The wealth creators" do nothing except make money out of money. Surely the true wealth creators are the artisans who actually have the skills to create the goods that others make their money out of. This world of ours is going through change. Perhaps the current position of the gamblers of both the stock market and the banks being part of the 10% of the world that have 90% of its wealth may change.
All only my opinion of course!
Of course it is OK to spend that on a watch. Why not? In fact, long term. It's a safe place to put your money whilst enjoying it.
And yes, people should be paid for the job they do. Then, if they work hard, they are more likely to be able to buy whatever nice things work for them.
That watch might have been someone's treat after their first decent bonus, it might have been a present or it might have been the result of long term saving. I am sure its rightful owner deserved it though.
BIRLIS
says...
10:48pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Sarah L H
says...
12:14pm Thu 16 Feb 12
katch22
says...
8:10pm Fri 17 Feb 12
naughtyladyofshadylaPerhaps the uniforms?
ne wrote:
wotnoky? what did you not like ?
Caterwood Creeper, no rewards? !, so would you do it the same again? Would you have said if you had lived there? Hw did you come up wth your name then? Chap, I would guess it was valued locally?? Reptile, I think that was a terrible way for the police to have acted, apart from yes, your disappointment!! So what is the point of the 30 day then? Boyracer dont get cocky, there are nicer ways of saying something! OK ! do you keep all your receipts for ever!! If one can lose a valuable item, like that, its careless, so do you reckon they can take care of a flimsy paper receipt??muffindamul
e, that sounds good, someone else on another case last week sang praises of Germany over something else.. Hmm
naughtyladyofshadylane
says...
8:44pm Fri 17 Feb 12
katch22
says...
9:28pm Fri 17 Feb 12
naughtyladyofshadyla" someone else on another case last week sang praises of Germany over something else. Hmm"
ne wrote:
to save me reading all thru to what did you reply, could it be the reference to wotnoky, sems so long ago I wrote that ?
naughtyladyofshadylane
says...
10:33pm Fri 17 Feb 12
katch22
says...
10:56pm Mon 20 Feb 12
katch22
says...
11:05pm Mon 20 Feb 12
naughtyladyofshadylaOR EVEN "dont mention the war"
ne wrote:
ah, I get you !! Must not hold grudges all this time though, those people are long gone !!
Last Poster
says...
12:28am Tue 21 Feb 12
BIRLIS wrote:I don't somehow think we will. I am afraid I favour the working man. I also think that your ideas and mine are poles apart. Guess your hero is that man who received a bonus of £15 or £18 million for the red telephone on wheels.
Right-o!
Doubt we'll see eye to eye on this somehow.
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Blind Haze says...
12:48pm Tue 14 Feb 12