Astana is investigating an unusual theft of a collection of expensive watches belonging to former Almaty mayor Bauyrzhan Baibek. According to journalist Mikhail Kozachkov, the crime involves 31-year-old Nurbolat, an assistant to the former official's assistant, who knew well where the valuables were kept, reports infohub.kz.
When Baibek's family went abroad, Nurbolat used spare keys from a service car to enter the house. Instead of simply stealing the watches, he replaced the originals with copies. Watches from Breguet, Blancpain, Hublot, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and A. Lange & Söhne were stolen. The total value of the collection is estimated at around 90 million tenge.
Upon returning home, the owners discovered the substitution and contacted the police. Astana's police department confirmed the theft but gave no details. "A 31-year-old suspect has been detained in connection with the watch theft. A criminal case has been opened. The investigation is ongoing," the capital's police department said.
All five brands are in the premium segment. For example, a Hublot Classic Fusion Black Magic costs about $10,700 from major authorized retailers. A new limited-edition Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe 2026 is priced at $18,300. Breguet and Jaeger-LeCoultre models also run into tens of thousands of dollars, with complex versions costing significantly more. A. Lange & Söhne is in an even higher price range, with some models fetching tens of thousands of dollars or more on the secondary market. The exact value of the stolen watches can only be determined after identifying the specific models and their condition.
This story has prompted social media users to question how a former official amassed such an expensive watch collection.