Thieves Target Gucci Stores In Boston, Newton

NEWTON (CBS) - Thieves are targeting Gucci stores in the Boston area. They have hit two different stores on four occasions, and the haul has been enormous.

It happens without warning.

"Less than probably 20 seconds," says Newton Police Lt. Bruce Apotheker. "They know exactly what they want."

And last Thursday at the Gucci store inside the Bloomingdale's at the Chestnut Hill Mall, it happened again.

"Pretty brazen. The first couple of times it was two to three individuals," Apotheker says. "This time, looking at the video, there were six people."

Half a dozen men storm into the store, past the employees and straight to the walls, where they pull item after item off the shelves. Gucci purses run into the thousands, and in this instance, the thieves made off with 30 handbags.

"They're going to sell it," Apotheker says. "They'll sell it for a fraction of the cost, and that will be used to buy drugs, guns."

And here's what's very concerning – it's the fourth robbery at a Gucci in the Boston area since April.

Police believe all cases, three in Chestnut Hill, and one on Boylston in Boston, are linked. More than $100,000 in merchandise has been stolen in the robberies.

In Chestnut Hill, the suspects took off in separate vehicles down busy Route 9, an easy getaway.

"This time nobody got hurt, but next time, it could be different," Apotheker said.