Gucci store robbery may be linked to similar crimes

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (WSVN) -- Police from different departments are comparing notes after a brazen robbery at a Gucci store.

Coral Gables Police arrested one man accused of stealing several pricey purses from the store inside the Village of Merrick Park, but think as many as six other thieves remain on the loose.

According to police, the crooks shattered the front window of the luxury store early Monday morning to get at the goods. "At approximately 5:20 this morning, we had multiple subjects enter into the Village of Merrick Park area and break into the Gucci store," said Coral Gables Police Sgt. Janette Frevola. "They broke in and took off in three vehicles; we're looking for three vehicles."

Lissette Rodriguez was shocked by the news of the break-in. "There's people here that just don't care, ram their car right into stores, and take what they can and run with it," she said.

"People are getting very desperate, and this is the result of it," said Kip Parsons, another shopper at the mall.

Authorities caught up with one of the alleged purse thieves in Little Havana and took him into custody later that morning. They found several of the expensive purses in the back of his car.

Just eight months ago, on Jan. 14, surveillance cameras captured four men ramming their vehicle into the same Gucci store and stealing several purses.

Coral Gables Police continue to investigate this robbery to see if it may be connected to a rash of burglaries that have occurred in the tri-county area over the past several months. Last Thursday several crooks used a car to get into a computer store and several Foot Locker stores. "This has been going on for several months, not just here in Miami Gardens, but in the tri-county area," said Miami Gardens Police Sgt. Bill Bamford.

If you have any information on this robbery or the other similar robberies, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.

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