MANHATTAN – Iconic Upper East Side department store Bloomingdale’s has become the latest luxury retailer to become the target of criminals— falling prey to two snatch-and-run thefts simultaneously inside the flagship store Thursday evening.
Investigators confirm to Upper East Site it was around 5:40 pm when several men in masks men went into Bloomingdale’s and headed to the Dior store on the main level and the Moncler store on the lower level— grabbing high-end clothes and bags and getting out of the store in a flash.
The pricey duds taken from Moncler were worth more than $8,000, while the six luxury handbags taken from Dior were valued at a total of $21,000.
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Hours after the heist, a handful of NYPD officers were visible the then-closed store investigating the robbery while a detective who was spotted leaving the famous shopping destination located at the corner of East 59th Street and Lexington Avenue.
Earlier Thursday afternoon, another Upper East Side store was the victim of a snatch-and-run theft.
Investigators tell Upper East Site that two suspects walked into the Neomie boutique on Third Avenue near East 73rd Street around 2:00 pm and made a beeline for the coat section of the store, grabbing multiple furs off the rack and running, making their getaway north up Third Avenue.
A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation tells Upper East Site that approximately $27,000 in fur coats were stolen from Naomi boutique.
Thursday’s armed robbery and pair of snatch-and-runs are part of a disturbing criminal trend targeting high-end stores on the Upper East Side, mostly on Madison Avenue.
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Last Sunday, police say seven thieves barged in The Real Real luxury consignment shop on Madison Avenue near East 71st Street— just as the store was closing at 6:00 pm— grabbing what they could and getting away with $498,000 in merchandise.
No arrests have been made in any of these luxury retail thefts and all cases are still under investigation, police say.
If you have any information regarding these crimes, you’re asked to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-8477.
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Utterly disgusting the degradation of the city. Thievery running rampant along with other serious crimes being committed.