Robbers Clip $50K Worth of Merch From NYC Gucci Store
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One luxury purveyor is the latest to see that, where retail crime is concerned, things may not be “all Gucci.”
Three robbers, one of whom brandished a firearm, stole about $51,000 in merchandise from a Manhattan Gucci store Monday, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD).
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Police said they learned of the robbery just after noon, and NYPD’s 6th Precinct responded to the store, located at 400 West 14th Street. Video footage shared with Sourcing Journal by the NYPD shows the thieves targeted suitcases, duffle bags and small handbags in their heist.
The police have not taken suspects into custody, and officers seek the public’s assistance in identifying the culprits, the NYPD said. The individuals fled the scene in a black Honda CRV, which they drove into New Jersey, traveling via the Lincoln Tunnel, according to police.
Police said there were no sustained injuries as a result of the robbery, but the Gucci store closed its doors for the remainder of the day.
The robbery comes just days after New York Governor Kathy Hochul said larceny has increased by more than 50 percent from 2017 to 2023 in New York City. The Democrat announced her plan to pump $45 million of state funding into several initiatives aimed at combating retail crime throughout the state, particularly in New York City. $25 million of that funding would be used to creating a smash-and-grab enforcement unit, the governor noted.
Hochul’s new initiatives would work to protect frontline retail employees and store owners alike, she said last week.
Despite the increase in larceny that Hochul cited, Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan District Attorney, said robberies have gone down 8.4 percent year to date in Manhattan. Bragg said he expects that number—and other indicators on retail crime—to continue to drop.
“Manhattan is the retail capital of the country, and we need our business community to thrive,” Bragg said in a statement. “The number of retail complaints reported in Manhattan in 2023 was down 23 percent compared to 2022, and [Hochul’s] plan will help continue to drive down those numbers as we work with our businesses and law enforcement partners to reduce retail theft and improve public safety.”
In November, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the launch of a task force focused on curbing retail crime throughout the city. It brings together the city’s five district attorneys, the New York Attorney General, law enforcement agents, retailers and more.
The NYPD’s Commissioner, Edward Caban, said he expects the state and city’s efforts could yield favorable outcomes for lowering retail crime rates.
“Our unified efforts to combat retail theft in New York City certainly require the continued, unwavering commitment of every single stakeholder,” Caban said in a November 2023 statement. “We are confronting head-on the genesis of this persistent and very costly issue and developing collaborative responses to prevent it from enduring. The NYPD and our law enforcement partners are highly optimistic that by working together with our many partners in the community, the tide will soon turn on this widespread concern.”
A Gucci spokesperson did not respond to requests inquiring whether the company had increased security in its Meatpacking district store, or at any other locations. Jeffrey Lefrancois, executive director of the Meatpacking District’s Business Improvement District did not respond to requests for comment.
The neighborhood had slightly more than 25,000 daily visitors in January, according to the BID’s monthly report. Hermès, Rag + Bone, Frame, Marni, Paige Denim, Brunello Cucinelli and Nili Lotan are among the numerous fashion stores in the area.
Diane von Furstenberg, an early troubadour into the neighborhood before it became densely populated with designer and luxury stores, houses her headquarters and a store on West 14th Street. She was such a believer in the area’s potential that she reportedly predicted in 2002 that West 14th Street would become the new East 57th Street—all of the big guys would come. The company has always had security on the premises and nothing has been added as a result of Monday’s robbery at Gucci, according to Luisella Meloni, vice president of philanthropy and cultural affairs at DVF Studio.
The police presence in the Meatpacking district has increased since the incident, according to a representative at Paige Denim’s Washington Street store, who preferred not to be identified. The company has not hired on-site security, due to this week’s incident. However, after noticing an uptick in end-of-the-day thefts a few months ago, Paige Denim adjusted its weekday business hours to close at 6 p.m. instead of 7 p.m., the employee said.
— With contributions from Rosemary Feitelberg
