Latest news with #DressCheshire
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I watched on helplessly as thieves took off with £250k of luxury handbags after drilling through a wall to break into my designer boutique
The owner of a designer boutique has revealed her horror and disbelief as she watched a group of brazen thieves steal £250,000 worth of luxury handbags from her shop. Christine Colbert, 58, could only watch on helplessly as live CCTV footage showed three intruders ransacking Dress Cheshire in Prestbury, Cheshire, on Sunday night. It is the second time she has been victim to a robbery in just over a year after thieves broke in through a window and stole bags worth £180,000 - prompting her to beef up security. Bags valued at as much as £30,000 were snatched on Sunday night, in the latest audacious raid targeting high-end goods in the area. Three intruders circumvented Dress Cheshire's sophisticated security set-up by identifying the 3ft wide chimney stack as a weakness. Having smashed their way through, one used a duvet cover as a giant pouch to steal the highly sought-after pre-owned bags from brands including Chanel, Gucci, Dior, and Louis Vuitton. Mrs Colbert told the Mail that she had been asleep when her security monitoring company gave her the dreaded call. 'I immediately switched on the CCTV on my phone and I could see a man crouching down and bricks all over the floor,' she said. 'I said to my husband Gary: "We're being robbed!" I was panicking.' Police were on the scene within minutes, but the gang had already made their getaway. A Hermes 'Crocodile Kelly' – priced at nearly £24,000 - was stolen along with the 'Holy Grail' of luxury handbags The Hermes Birkin – in various sizes. Watching the footage back she could hear the noise of drilling for over an hour before the raiders broke through. 'They were big burly men, and they were all in black with goggles, balaclavas, and gloves,' Ms Colbert continued. 'They took three or four minutes to whirl round the shop and grab all the bags. One man had a duvet tied round his neck like a pouch which he threw the bags in. 'Another man put everything up his arms – they were full of bags. Then they hurled the handbags through the hole they'd made - two or three at a time. 'The respect for the bags was zero.' In total the gang took 55 handbags - dropping just two which were among the least valuable. The neighbouring building was empty following an arson attack - neighbours had seen 'workmen' coming and going and assumed it was being renovated. However it is now believed the gang were plotting their attack, boarding up the windows and entering the shop via a fireplace. Mrs Colbert is now faced with a decision on whether to continue displaying the luxury goods in her store, which attracts collectors from around the country. 'This has been very well thought through - it's very frightening for me,' she said. 'I have to showcase my products – advertise them. I despair. Part of me thinks should I carry on – but why should I let criminals determine my business model? 'I can't believe the lengths they have gone to. It used to be watches people wanted – now it's handbags and they are worth more second-hand than they are new. 'I doubt I'll see the stolen bags again – they will now go on the black market.' Officers from Cheshire Police arrived at the store 'within minutes' and are now appealing for information. Detective Constable Clare Slattery said: 'Our enquiries are ongoing, and we would urge anyone who witnessed this incident or saw anything suspicious to get in touch with us.' Along with Wilmslow and Alderley Edge, Prestbury makes up the so-called Golden Triangle of towns favoured by Cheshire celebrities and sports stars. Ex-Manchester United star Wayne Rooney and his wife Coleen used to live there until they moved to a £20million home they designed nearby. However the area has been frequently targeted by burglars including a gang who snatched more than 100 rare handbags worth over £1million when they raided a home in Alderley Edge in March.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Gang steal £250,000 worth of luxury handbags after tunneling into designer boutique through a wall
Thieves climbed through a chimney and dug a hole in the wall to steal £250,000 worth of luxury handbags from a designer boutique. The owner of Dress Cheshire has spoken of her devastation after the gang of three men broke into her store at New Road in Prestbury, Cheshire on Sunday night. They are thought to have entered a disused building adjacent to the shop an hour before the burglary and created a hole in the wall. Police say the trio then gained access to the store through the chimney area. Officers are currently trying to track down the culprits and the stolen bags. Speaking on social media, Dress Cheshire manager Christine Colbert said a gang had gained entry by 'boring a 1m x 0.5m wide hole through the wall which took over an hour to drill'. Fighting back tears, Ms Colbert added: 'I'm absolutely devastated. They've stolen our beautiful handbags to the value of a quarter of a million pounds. 'This is a very serious crime for Cheshire Police. There were three men. This was very well planned and organised.' The luxury boutique owner also praised Cheshire Police for arriving 'within minutes'. Detective Constable Clare Slattery, of Macclesfield CID (criminal investigation department), said: 'Our enquiries are ongoing, and we would urge anyone who witnessed this incident or saw anything suspicious to get in touch with us. 'The same goes for anyone with dashcam footage or CCTV which might aid our investigation. 'We also want to hear from anyone who thinks they may have information regarding the whereabouts of the items that were stolen.' Customers and local householders have since offered their condolences to Ms Colbert in the aftermath of the 'absolutely awful' burglary. Beverley Watson said: 'Wow, can't believe they went to such lengths to gain entry and steal your handbags 'Thank goodness they didn't come though the door in business hours, and that you and your staff are safe. 'I know this is little comfort considering the hard work Dress Cheshire requires on your part. Take care.' Lisa O'Nions added: 'There are no words Christine Colbert we are so so sorry that this has happened to you and your beautiful shop again! 'As others have commented we are just glad that you and the staff are safe and ok. Sending all our love to you all at Dress Cheshire.' And Sally Williams said: 'So so sorry to hear this Christine absolutely awful, sending love and for all those concerned. Can only imagine how shook up you are.' News of the theft comes as MailOnline analysis earlier this year revealed streets lined with designer shops and multi-million pound homes prove to be the biggest burglary hotspots in England and Wales. The sector built around Regent Street in London, one of the capital's most famed areas because of its breadth of shops and restaurants, recorded 282 break-ins last year. Home to just 2,280 residents, in-depth analysis suggested that particular block, which includes Oxford Street, New Bond Street, Carnaby Street and Saville Row, saw 123 burglaries for every 1,000 people.
