Police: Louis Vuitton burglars took more than $120,000 in merchandise

A day after eight masked intruders looted the Louis Vuitton store at Oakbrook Center, officials said the crime was unlike any in recent memory at the outdoor mall.

Oak Brook police remained tight-lipped Monday about the burglary that occurred around 4 a.m. Sunday when the burglars drove a minivan through the front of the store, loaded their stash and drove off before authorities arrived.

The burglars escaped with more than 50 pieces of merchandise worth more than $120,000 from the luxury purse maker, authorities said.

While a police spokesman didn't elaborate, he did acknowledge the unique nature of the crime.

“I have been here 18 years and I don't recall a case similar to this,” spokesman and officer George Peterson said.

The preliminary investigation indicates that after the minivan crashed through the front doors, eight people wearing masks and gloves entered the business while the driver waited in the vehicle.

Chuck Fleming, Oakbrook Center's senior general manager, called the burglary “an isolated incident.”

“This is the first time this has ever happened in this manner,” Fleming said. “There's individual things that have taken place, but nothing as brazen as this.”

In May, three people wearing masks and gloves broke into the Lord &' Taylor store at the mall and stole more than 150 pieces of jewelry and watches valued at more than $100,000.

The burglars smashed a window to get into the store. It was similar to the smash-and-grab that happened in March at the Louis Vuitton store, where burglars took bags worth more than $70,000.

Fleming said the earlier burglary at Louis Vuitton was different from what occurred Sunday.

“It wasn't in the same manner,” he said.

Fleming declined to talk about what security measures the mall had in place Sunday and what changes may be made. The mall has security guards.

“I can tell you we're working with the Oak Brook Police Department with this investigation,” Fleming said.

Fleming said mall officials are “very concerned” about what happened because Oakbrook Center is an open-air shopping center.

“We are like everybody else — a potential target,” Fleming said. “We have to set up our day-to-day livelihood based on being prepared for these types of events.”

Police said there is a store surveillance video showing the burglary, but it isn't being made public because the case is being actively investigated.

Calls to a Louis Vuitton spokeswoman weren't returned.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Oak Brook police at (630) 368-8700 or email crimetips@oakbrook.org.