A high-end men’s second-hand clothing store in SoHo, Manhattan was robbed by a group of professional thieves in the early hours of Monday, December 1st. The entire heist took less than five minutes, resulting in a loss of up to $1 million. The store described the swift and precise robbery as “somewhat like the Louvre jewelry theft.”
According to the police, the incident occurred around 4:45 am. Four male thieves smashed the window of the boutique on Spring St and swiftly stuffed a large number of high-value items into bags before fleeing in a sedan.
The thieves appeared to be familiar with the layout of the store and had planned their roles in advance, with someone acting as a lookout and another handling the getaway car, giving the operation a resemblance to the Louvre theft.
The Louvre Museum in Paris was also targeted by three thieves on motorcycles at the end of October, stealing valuable jewels from the Napoleon III era worth around $100 million.
The thieves in SoHo primarily targeted the store’s “one of one” unique products, meaning apparel that is one-of-a-kind globally, often reselling for over $1,000.
Surveillance footage showed the thieves immediately rushing to the display racks after breaking the window, swiftly stuffing multiple pieces of clothing and accessories into a large bag. The entire operation took only 4 and a half minutes.
As of now, the police have not disclosed the suspects’ identities nor confirmed if a suspicious vehicle has been found. Based on the modus operandi, these thieves appear highly professional and well-acquainted with the high-value items in the store.