NYPD is on the trail of thieves who, in separate actions, have shown a preference for robbing luxury boutiques in Manhattan, taking Givenchy and Louis Vuitton brand products.
One man is being sought as a suspect in several thefts of Louis Vuitton products. According to the NYPD, he entered the brand’s Hudson Yards (Manhattan West) store and asked a sales clerk to try on a leather jacket in one incident. Fox News reported that he put it on and then simply walked out of the store and away with the $4,550 garment.
In another incident, the man reportedly entered the same store, grabbed a $2,590 Louis Vuitton purse, tucked it under his jacket to conceal it, and fled. Detectives say he is approximately 40 to 50 years old. NYPD released surveillance photos in hopes of locating the suspect.
In addition, four thieves robbed the SoHo Givenchy store in 45 seconds, making off with more than $50,000 worth of expensive handbags and other accessories around 7:30 a.m. on Feb. 11.
The group smashed the window in the front door of the boutique on Greene St. near Spring St. and entered through the hole they made, NYPD said. Surveillance video from inside the store released by NYPD shows the suspects – three men and a woman – opening duffel bags filled with wallets, purses, clothing, and other items, some ripped from the security cables to which they were attached.
One of the suspects had a duffel bag large enough to hold a field hockey team, the Daily News detailed.
As three assailants emptied the display racks, a fourth suspect, wearing a Yankees baseball cap and a white surgical mask, ran to the back of the store and began pulling a selection of clothing from the racks, the video shows. The suspects were last seen heading northbound on Green St. toward West Houston St., the video shows.
No arrests have been made, and no suspects have been identified. Anyone with information should call 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) and Spanish 1-888-57-PISTA (74782), also via crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or by text message to 274637 (CRIMES), followed by TIP577. All communications are strictly confidential.
NYC has become a haven for “occasion” thieves: retail shoplifting reached record levels for the second year in a row in 2022 and this 2023 continues the same trend, leading to product shortages and even store closures.
Moreover, it’s not just thefts but also violent attacks on employees and owners who shoplifters and homeless people have confronted. But many of those arrested flee and if caught, are soon released thanks to penal reform, NYPD officers complain.
The pandemic, the anti-police climate and penal reform have been identified as factors that have spiked crime in New York City.