The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has seized 12 potentially luxury watches during a search warrant executed at a property in Dorset on 03 September 2024. The operation is part of an ongoing investigation into a suspected £76 million care home fraud involving the collapsed Carlauren Group.

The watches, which include prestigious brands such as Patek Philippe, Rolex, and Hublot, are believed to be worth over £500,000 if found to be authentic. The SFO, supported by Dorset Police, conducted the raid on suspicion that the items were acquired using proceeds of crime. The seized watches will now be transported to a secure facility for authentication and valuation. If found to be counterfeit, they may be destroyed.

This search follows an earlier SFO announcement in March regarding their investigation into Carlauren Group, a UK-based property developer that fell into administration in November 2019. The collapse left over 600 investors facing significant financial losses and forced elderly residents to vacate their homes. Over a four-year period, Carlauren Group purchased 23 properties across the UK, promising investors an annual 10% return on converting the sites into luxury care homes. However, only nine of the properties ever became operational.

Nick Ephgrave QPM, Director of the SFO, emphasized the agency’s commitment to recovering criminal assets:

“We work hard to recover criminal assets and prevent suspected offenders from enjoying – or concealing – the spoils of their crimes. Many investors remain affected by the collapse of the Carlauren Group, and we are progressing our investigation at pace to deliver justice for them.”

The investigation into the Carlauren Group continues as the SFO seeks to hold those responsible for the fraudulent scheme accountable and recover the assets acquired through criminal means.