I have seen this tactic several times before, in the wild and in providence. Aparently it was not reported yet, from my perspective covering up scents has happened many times and JC was aware of methods of doing so. People have used unmoveable objects, graphic overlays (tiny limestones etc) to prevent people with a regular clients to obtain them. I valued them as a legit tactic. But once again, it is somewhat understandable for him to make this call. But anyone with a couple of hours coud've easily gotten the correct scents.
The combat lock in this game is not pernamently and has been reported in several occasions, there is a clear time limit and its most certainly not possible to prevent acces pernamently. The random KO promp of JC was however unnecessary. I was not AFK or whatsoever and if we look at it from JC's economic point of view losing a few watches and wing-a-rangs is considered to be a huge loss. So I cannot really appreciate intervention like that without any warning or whatsoever. (He doesn't want to intervene when someone is commiting scents, in order to steal more but he instantly intervenes the other way around) Locking people in combat is and always has been a legit tactic and the least he coud've done was to give a warning. Anyhow, the alt wasn't loaded to an extreme extend. Knowing that I from now on can ask for developers to remove said ***** is only informative and will be nice for future endavours.
I am not stupid for leaving scents on that character, the decision was already made in advance, if it were to come to a situation like this, the value of the looted items are beyond the character's worth. The character is not even worth a mask and as a member of the dominant faction on Providence, I am not going to cowardly give up an interesting situation.