Thieves smashed their way into a designer goods shop in Tokyo's glitzy Ginza district and made off with more than 40 million yen worth of Hermes bags, Japanese police and reports said Friday.
Three men broke through shutters at the store's entrance and grabbed three scarves and 21 of the upmarket bags, with the most expensive one worth 2.6 million yen, broadcaster NHK said.
The store, Atour Ginza, specializes in Hermes, media reports said, adding that the thieves used two get-away cars.
A police spokeswoman confirmed the raid, which she said happened before dawn.
Ginza is a hub for designer brands and upmarket department stores, attracting thousands of shoppers every day who are willing to lay out huge sums for top-of-the-range items.
© (C) 2013 AFP
29 Comments
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paulinusa
Witnesses? Cameras?
kurisupisu
40 million yen?
1 bag is 2.6 million yen
Yeah right......
No Miso
Nothing like a bit of "excess" to start the day. How can a bag cost so much?
SauloJpn
The bags might only get the price of Knockoffs from china in the black market. When these thieves divide the loot, I don't think it will be a lot to compensate for the time they will serve!
sangetsu03
Sad but true. My wife waited in line for two hours in Paris to buy a Hermes Birkin bag, because they cost "only" 5000 euros there. In Japan they cost at least three to five times as much.
Disillusioned
Hermes bags will be coming to an online store at exceptional prices.
Cricky
A bag that costs that much must be a badge of stupidity.
Get Real
They'll be fenced easily enough in China.
'Grey' market shops are easy pickings, as their security is Japan-standard, unlike the real Hermes shop.
kickboard
Sounds like something straight from GTA 5
wtfjapan
seriously if 3 scarfs and 21 bags cost more than 40million, then they deserve to be robbed for the thieves they are.
Cricky
I wonder how it feels to carry one of these bags when you pass a homeless person?
Ian Duncan
The only bag worth 2.6 million yen is one with 2.595 million in it.
GW
I wudnt give them Y10,000 for the lot haha!
The real crime are the fools that BUY these things LOL!
JeanValJean
The store is certainly insured against theft.
Cricky
These bags are priceless, no one can put a price on self worth. I really feel upset as a customer now can not bolster their self esteem by purchasing a device that carries a phone and simular priced wallet containing a card of happiness that enables a feeling of wellness. I hope that these desroyers of happiness are caught and hung I say. Unbelievable crime.
some14some
for about Y10M the actual cost of these bags :)
sighclops
For the uninformed - Birkins can cost upwards of ¥2m (and as much as ¥8m for a special order).
Serrano
"more than 40 million yen worth of Hermes bags... three scarves and 21 of the upmarket bags, with the most expensive one worth 2.6 million yen"
Something is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it.
pizzatime
They had pretty bad taste. Expensive... but bad.
Brian Wheway
well according to internet 2.6 mill could be right ! "The Birkin bag is a handbag by Hermès, handmade in leather and named after actress and singer Jane Birkin. The bag is a symbol of wealth due to its high price and usage by celebrities.[1]
Its prices range from £4,800 to £100,000 ($7,400 to $150,000). Costs escalate according to the type of materials. The bags are distributed to Hermès boutiques on unpredictable schedules and in limited quantities, creating scarcity and, intended or unintended, exclusivity."
some14some
It appears from some of the above posts that Hermes PR department is trying to save product image and its cost in case if these stolen goods are sold at cheaper price.
Nessie
The berks took my Birkins!
roberto60
have copied the Italian thieves :)
Jeremy Rigby
I'm sure the store's already filed the insurance report! Easier than selling the bags!
ControlFreak
@some14some--This is what happens when free speech meets capitalism.
@Serrano--I know what I would be willing to pay, but even I think they are worth more than ichiman!
Vernie Jefferies
I am more amazed how these guys actually broke into the store in the middle of busy Ginza. I looked at the news and saw the damage of the security gate over the door at the Front Entrance. They had to do a smash and grab (with a vehicle) to pull that off. With all those security cameras in that area, the police should get some good clues to catch them.
canadianbento
Who can tell a real 'Hermes' Bag from a fake 'Hermes' lBag, only the person who got ripped off.
Tiger_In_The_Hermitage
why those bags cost so much?
Abhorsenaube
With the bags being worth so much wouldn't it be easy to identify? If a random bloke walks into a shop trying to pawn off a 2 million dollar bag any normal clerk would get suspicious.