Justice for John Wick! Keanu’s Stolen Watches Recovered

It sounds like a plot from one of his action movies, but for Keanu Reeves, it’s a real-life story with a happy ending. Chilean authorities announced on Tuesday that six valuable watches stolen from the actor’s Los Angeles home nearly two years ago have been recovered and are on their way back to him.

Police found the collection, valued at a total of $125,000, during a series of raids targeting a sophisticated international burglary ring. Thanks to a successful joint operation, the FBI now officially has custody of the treasured timepieces and will soon return them to their famous owner.

Uncovering a Global Burglary Operation

During a high-profile break-in in December 2023, thieves stole the watches, including an engraved Rolex worth at least $9,500, from Reeves’ Hollywood Hills estate. According to TMZ, the items surfaced thousands of miles away in Santiago, Chile.

Their recovery was part of a much larger international effort, codenamed “Operation Pennsylvania,” aimed at dismantling a South American-based burglary crew. This highly organized group specifically targeted the multimillion-dollar homes of celebrities and professional athletes in the United States, with Kansas City Chiefs players Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes also being among the victims.

The joint operation between Chilean police and the FBI led to raids across Santiago, uncovering not only Reeves’ watches but also stolen cars, iPhones, and designer purses. The coordinated effort has been a significant blow to the crime ring.

In April, Chilean police announced the arrest of 23 citizens connected to the break-ins, and federal prosecutors in the U.S. later filed criminal complaints against seven suspected members. Prosecutor Eduardo Baeza acknowledged the growing problem during a press conference, stating, per the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “This phenomenon of international thieves has regretfully existed in our country for many years, but it’s unfortunately been on the rise recently.”

The Official Recovery and Return Process

Chilean authorities announced the recovery of the watches as the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, arrived in Chile for meetings about transnational crime. Last year, a Chilean national robbed Noem herself in Washington, D.C.

Marcelo Varas, an officer with Chile’s robbery investigation squad, confirmed that the six watches were valued at $125,000 and that Reeves had positively identified them as his property, according to ABC News. After months of investigation following the raids, Chilean officials formally turned the timepieces over to the FBI.

The Bureau is now making the final arrangements to return the items to the beloved “Matrix” and “John Wick” star. Authorities say they are still investigating the precise link between the theft of Reeves’ watches and the other celebrity burglaries.