Wearing a luxury watch at the airport? Put it in your bag before you reach security

Organised syndicates are targeting travellers with expensive watches at South African airports - and security checkpoints are a favourite hunting ground. The tactic: spot the watch, wait for it to land in a screening tray, then distract the owner with a bag search or a request to turn around. In one recent incident, a Rolex was snatched this way; in another, the attempt narrowly failed. The fix is simple: before you join the security queue, slip your watch into your handbag or carry-on. Also stay alert after landing - some criminals follow targets all the way home.