Phu Quoc airport police help Chinese tourist recover lost $9,000 Rolex

The airport police said on Wednesday that they had received a thank-you letter from Chinese tourist Jiming Shi after officers recovered and returned her boyfriend's watch, valued at 60,000 Chinese yuan ($8,890).

In her letter, Jiming praised the officers' sense of responsibility, professionalism, and dedication.

"We deeply felt the responsibility, professionalism, and commitment of the police officers at Phu Quoc airport. It was thanks to their tireless efforts and close coordination among all parties that I was able to recover the watch," she wrote.

"You not only helped us recover a valuable watch but also strengthened our faith in honesty and international cooperation. 

"We will always remember your invaluable assistance."

Earlier at around 7:00 pm on Monday, Jiming reported to the airport police that her boyfriend's Rolex watch had gone missing during the security screening process before their flight back to China.

Officers immediately reviewed the couple's movements and followed all available leads.

They later found that the couple's two suitcases had accidentally collided on the baggage screening conveyor belt, causing one of them to open.

The Rolex watch then fell out of one of the suitcases unnoticed.

They also asked international passengers who had been in line behind Jiming to help search for the lost watch.

By around 8:30 pm, the watch had not yet been found.

However, Jiming and her boyfriend had to board their flight from Phu Quoc to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport in China.

Police continued searching for the watch after the couple had departed and later learned that another passenger had found it.

At 11:29 pm that evening, police notified Jiming that the watch had been found.

With the cooperation of relevant parties, the Rolex was later returned intact to her boyfriend, police said.