Last Thursday afternoon, a crew of four stormed the Gucci outlet at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, smashed open a glass display case and yanked out more than a dozen high-end handbags before sprinting into the concourse. Staffers rushed shoppers out of the way as the suspects fled. No injuries were reported, and police put the haul at roughly $30,000. Surveillance footage shows the group moving quickly through the store and slipping past cable sensors to snatch the bags. Investigators say the suspects left the outlet and crossed into New Jersey shortly after.
Video and police statements indicate the group was made up of three men and one woman, who can be seen smashing cases and removing cable sensors to make off with the bags, according to Storyful via Yahoo. Woodbury Town police said the larceny was reported at about 3 p.m. Newark officers later spotted what investigators believe was the rented getaway car, triggering a chase that had to be called off because of heavy traffic. The vehicle was later found abandoned in Irvington, New Jersey, per reporting by NorthJersey/AOL.
New video shows suspects ransacking the store
Fresh video obtained by News 12 shows the suspects shattering glass, sweeping handbags into their arms and racing past stunned shoppers while employees yank bystanders out of harm's way. An outlet worker who shared the footage told the station incidents like this happen more often than most people realize and also supplied photos of other alleged suspects. Police confirmed there was a separate attempted after-hours break-in at the nearby Balenciaga store and noted that some thefts may never get reported.
One suspect tied to other thefts
Authorities say the lone woman in the group has now been identified and is believed to be connected to more than a dozen similar retail larcenies across the tri-state area, with multiple warrants already outstanding, according to NorthJersey/AOL. Investigators are asking shoppers and employees to share any tips, photos or video that could help track down the suspects. Police say no arrests have been made so far.
Shoppers, workers voice safety concerns
Regulars at the outlet and employees on-site told News 12 they were shaken by how bold the smash-and-grab appeared and questioned why access points were not more tightly controlled in the middle of the afternoon. Overnight workers said they have flagged safety concerns in the past, and the station reported that store managers do not always log every theft. Simon Property Group, which manages Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, had not responded to requests for comment at the time of the reporting.
What investigators are doing now
Detectives are combing through surveillance footage, canvassing the outlet and running down leads in an effort to recover the stolen merchandise and put names to the faces caught on camera. Police agencies from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, along with federal partners, are involved in the investigation, according to Storyful via Yahoo. Anyone who captured photos or video of the incident is being urged to contact local law enforcement.
