Early Saturday morning, a significant incident unfolded at the Somerset Collection in Troy, Michigan, as hundreds of eager customers gathered for the highly anticipated release of a new watch. The Troy Police Department received calls around 4:30 a.m. regarding an unusually large crowd congregated outside the Swatch store as fans lined up for the exclusive Royal Pop pocket watch.
The Royal Pop collection, a vibrant collaboration between Swatch and luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet, features eight distinct pocket watches, each priced between $400 and $420. The timing of the release drew excitement and a flood of watch enthusiasts, leading to a chaotic scene at the upscale mall.
Local law enforcement quickly assessed the situation and anticipated the need for additional support, requesting mutual aid from surrounding agencies to help manage the burgeoning crowd. Police estimated that hundreds of customers were present, escalating safety concerns within the vicinity. Thankfully, authorities were able to control the situation without any major incidents.
However, not all attendees complied with security protocols. Despite requests from mall security for patrons to disperse when the situation became untenable, two individuals received trespassing citations for refusing to leave the property.
In light of the crowd size and associated safety issues, Swatch made the decision to cancel the product release event. Additionally, the Troy store and eight other Swatch locations across the country were closed for the remainder of the day, highlighting the significant impact of the overwhelming turnout.
As the dust settled, questions arose about crowd management practices for future events at the high-profile venue. Local news outlets, including FOX 2, have reached out to the Somerset Collection for further comments regarding the day’s incidents.
