Police across two forces are hunting men armed with bolt cutters who stole more than £20,000 in designer handbags from two branches of a boutique in Surrey and south west London.
Phoenix Style’s luxury resale shop on Oakdene Parade, Cobham was targeted at 5.30pm on Monday in the latest raid which has left retailers across the capital in fear.
Then a sister store in Wimbledon Village was raided for £15,000 of stock at 12.45pm the next day.
Owner Paige Mengers and Surrey Police posted images on Facebook and the shop’s Instagram page of two suspects entered the Cobham building wielding bolt cutters before swiping a £6,000 bag.
Mrs Mengers told the Standard she was so disappointed by the lack of action from the Metropolitan Police – who supplied a crime reference number without visiting the crime scene – she wrote an open letter to Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley.
“It’s awful,“ she said.
“The staff were terrified. One of them is really shaking. She froze because she sees them coming into the Wimbledon shop knowing what they are going to do. She presses the panic button and the police don’t turn up.
“I’m not sure she will be back for a few days. I don’t call the police unless it’s really serious.
“What do we have to do before they’ll take notice? Do we actually have to be clubbed over the head?”
Shop owner Paige Mengers (Instagram)
In a video update on Instagram, she said on Wednesday: “The same individuals robbed our store in Wimbledon and took even more bags. They weren’t bothered about concealing their faces. They came in with weapons. One was barricading the doors so no-one could get in or out.
“The other one came in and stole more bags.
“Again, Met Police are not interested. They gave us a reference number. However, we’ve got some amazing footage of these men.
“I want to say thank you to everyone for your kind support and for all the messages.
“We’ve got some leads which we have given to our private security company.
“Surrey Police came today to take a statement which is phenomenal. Please spread the word and show these images to as many people as you can.
“I know we are not alone. I know there are so many other retail stores.”
Two men caught on CCTV inside shop (Surrey Police)
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “Police were called to reports of theft at a shop at High Street, Wimbledon at around 12.40pm on Tuesday, January 14.
“The investigation is ongoing. There have been no arrests at this stage.
“The incident reported on Monday, January 13 is being dealt with by Surrey Police and we are liaising with them over any possible links.”
Surrey Police added: “We are aware that there have been reports of an armed robbery at a shop in Cobham around 5.30pm on Monday evening.
“While it has been reported that bolt-cutters may have been used to remove a high-value handbag from Phoenix Style in Oakdene Parade, there is no suggestion that at any time staff were physically harmed or threatened with violence, and the incident has been recorded as a shoplifting offence, and not an armed robbery.
“Officers have visited the shop and spoken with staff, and an investigation is under way to identify those responsible.”
The incident comes amid a spate of designer handbag thefts, with robbers targeting showrooms for stock worth millions in London.
Last month influencer and model Janice Joostema warned other women shopping in London’s West End “to beware” after CCTV caught the moment her new £10,000 Birkin bag was stolen as she tried on clothes at a boutique.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is urged to call the Met on 101, quoting 01/7047470/25, the Surrey force quoting PR\45250004650 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.