For the second time in two days, thieves have smashed their way into expensive clothing stores in Oslo and made off with brand-name fashions. The thefts are believed to have been ordered and paid for by organizers knowing exactly what they wanted.
The latest theft occurred in the pre-dawn hours of Tuesday morning, when thieves put their car in reverse and backed up through the plate glass window of the Høyer clothing store at Sjølyst in Oslo. Witnesses told police they then saw the thieves quickly fill the car with clothing before driving off in a green Ford Mondeo.
On Monday, thieves smashed the glass windows of the Gunnar Øye men’s clothing store on Bogstadvein in Oslo’s Majorstuen district. Witnesses described seeing “several” persons dressed in dark clothing themselves who then ran off with clothing they’d snatched. Police later said the losses included around 10 to 15 expensive jackets.
Petter Gedde, managing director of Høyer, told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) that he thinks the assault on his store was “clearly” a theft ordered and contracted by organizers. “They have been selective in what they’ve taken, mostly parkas, down jackets,” Gedde told NRK.
Other clothing was left untouched and neatly folded on shelves, while only the most expensive jackets and parkas were taken. Høyer has won prizes for its exclusive selection of clothing, including fashion from known designers such as Missoni and Stella McCartney.
Losses were pegged at around NOK 1 million and Gedde said the Høyer store at Sjølyst has been the target of theft four times this year alone. He said two of the thefts were relatively minor, including money from the cash register, but in May, thieves also crashed through the store’s windows and stole many designer suits.
Views and News from Norway/Nina Berglund
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