DC Chanel store ransacked by thieves armed with fire extinguisher: police

Thieves steal $250,000 worth of purses, handbags from DC Chanel store

A retail theft crime at the Chanel store at City Center D.C. ended with a security guard opening fire. Police say the thieves took off with over $250,000 worth of purses and handbags. FOX 5's Sierra Fox has the story.

WASHINGTON - Authorities say a group of thieves armed with a fire extinguisher stormed a Chanel store in Northwest D.C. over the weekend and stole $250,000 worth of merchandise.

The mob-style ransacking was reported just after 5:30 p.m. Sunday in the 900 block of I Street.

Second District Commander Tatjana Savoy with the Metropolitan Police Department said two suspects held open the doors while four others rushed into the store. One of the suspects discharged the fire extinguisher, creating a distraction, while the three others grabbed 99 purses and handbags. All six individuals involved fled in a vehicle, Savoy said.

A Chanel security guard fired one shot during the robbery, but the shot did not strike anyone, Savoy said. She said the department is looking into the weapons discharge to see if it is a possible use of force.

No injuries were reported. It is not clear if any customers were inside the store during the robbery.

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Chanel store ransacked by thieves armed with fire extinguisher: police

Detectives are reviewing video surveillance video of the robbery, Savoy said.

Chanel store ransacked by group armed with fire extinguisher: police

Authorities say a group of thieves armed with a fire extinguisher stormed a Chanel store in northwest D.C. over the weekend and stole an undisclosed amount of merchandise.

On Monday evening, the police department released an image of one of the suspects in the robbery.

Check it out below:

Photo via DC police

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