Nearly $1 million worth of handbags stolen from luxury boutique store in Florida
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Thirteen one-of-a-kind Hermes handbags valued at a total of nearly $1 million were stolen from Only Authentics boutique in Palm Beach during a smash-and-grab incident earlier this month.
Store owner Virgil Rogers said the handbags were stolen when the window where they were displayed was shattered sometime during the night of Dec. 14.
Several of the bags are worth more than six figures each, Virgil said, putting the total value of the missing items close to $1 million.
The storecarries a 30-year curated collection of Hermes and Chanel handbags, jewelry and accessories, an employee said. Only Authentic credits itself as "the world’s most trusted independent dealer of Hermes and Chanel handbags and accessories," according to its website.
Related video: California Nordstrom stormed and robbed in 'organized theft'
Hermes handbags come in a variety of styles and lines made up of one-of-a-kind pieces. The Kelly and the Birkin are the most expensive handbags in the line.
Organized retail crime on the rise: $25,000 in luxury purses stolen in latest 'grab and go' theft in California: What to know
'Just be a good witness': Amid spike in organized theft, retailers reassess loss prevention
Eight Birkins and five Kellys were stolen, with the most expensive being a 40-centimeter green crocodile skin Kelly listed at $89,000 and a 32-centimeter Vert Bosphore Birkin listed at $110,000, according to a store employee.
More: After Nordstrom robbery in California, will other retailers be next? Experts say yes.
What are 'smash-and-grab' thefts?
These incidents, which have been dubbed "grab and go" or "smash and go" thefts, involve people taking expensive items and running off, rather than traditional shoplifters who snag items here and there while shopping around.
Some of these thefts are also considered organized retail crime, referring to professional shoplifting rings. They have cost U.S. retail stores and companies as much as $30 billion a year, according to the FBI.
Retailers and experts from the National Retail Federation say thefts have gotten more violent amid the pandemic and have moved from cities to the suburbs. Retailers say they're worried more robberies may be on the horizon.
Contributing: Christine Fernando
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Hermes handbags worth almost $1 million stolen from Florida store
