A gang of thieves are on the run after a dramatic ram-raid at Fendi’s luxury boutique in Sydney’s CBD early this morning.
Police were called to the Fendi boutique on the corner of Elizabeth and Market Street, in Sydney’s CBD, at about 3.45am on Wednesday.
The group of thieves drove through the shop window in a stolen silver Lexus SUV before quickly looting the store.
The offenders made off with a haul of high-end handbags believed to be worth tens of thousands of dollars.
The SUV, which was reported stolen from Waterloo on Tuesday, was abandoned at the scene.
Witnesses reported seeing the group flee in two other vehicles – a white BMW wagon with NSW registration NCA59A and a grey Audi S3 with NSW registration DMR81V.
Both vehicles were reported stolen during a break-in at a home in Kingsford overnight.
The ram-raiders behind the Fendi smash-and-grab have been branded some of Australia’s dumbest criminals – with some noting the stolen handbags may only fetch around $3,000 each, and likely far less if buyers suspect they’re stolen.
If they try to sell the luxury handbags on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree, it’ll be easy for police to trace them, thanks to the bags’ unique serial numbers and instantly recognisable designs.
The group of brazen thieves smashed through the Fendi store on the corner of Elizabeth and Market Street in Sydney’s CBD (pictured)
The store’s interior showed extensive damage and empty shelves after the thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of luxury goods (pictured)
Their only real option not to get caught may be offloading the designer goods to friends or family for cash, a risky move that would slash the resale value even further.
Police have established a crime scene and are combing through CCTV footage and forensic evidence.
Officers from Sydney City Police Area Command remain at the site, with the store’s interior showing extensive damage and empty shelves where luxury goods once sat.
Police are advising anyone who sights the two getaway vehicles to not approach but call authorities immediately.
Anyone with information is urged to call Day Street Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 18000 333 000.
It comes after thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of luxury items from the Fendi boutique in Melbourne.
The Fendi boutique on Collins Street in Melbourne’s CBD was targeted by thieves shortly before 6am on April 8.
The group used a vehicle to smash through the front windows of the boutique before grabbing a stash of designer handbags, clothing and other accessories.
Police charged four people with multiple offences and a fifth was released pending summons.
The group allegedly were part of a crime ring which targeted six luxury stores in a series of smash-and-grab ram raids in March and April.
About $1.2million in goods was stolen from the raids at stores including David Jones, Fendi and Dior – the latter raided twice.
