Robbers posed for hours as mannequins to steal $12K worth of designer clothing

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said: “We are investigating after the break-in was reported at Beales store in South Street.
“Clothing was stolen and the burglars left the store through the fire escape, which set off the alarm. It is not clear how they got in.
“Officers are continuing to investigate. Anyone who saw anything or has any information is asked to contact police on 101 or on Crimestoppers anonymously.”
A Beales spokesman said: “We do not wish to comment now.”

Police in Sussex, England say a gang of sophisticated thieves posed as mannequins for hours until the Beales clothing store closed for the night. Then they leisurely stole £10,000 ($12,600 USD) worth of designer clothing and boldly walked out of the store.

According to the UK Mirror, the heist happened at the upscale Beales store in Worthing, Sussex in England. CCTV cameras captured the gang shopping at their leisure after the store closed and the sales people went home for the night.

At first police were baffled as to how the boosters got into the store without tripping the elaborate alarm system.

The alarms only sounded when the burglars left the store with their merchandise.

Investigators called the shoplifting a “very well-orchestrated crime” imitating a scene in the movie Home Alone 2, starring McCaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci and David Stern.

“They must have secreted themselves and pretended to be mannequins, a store assistant told the UK Mirror newspaper.

“They probably dressed in clothes identical to those worn by the mannequins and stood there, not moving a muscle till the shop shut and everyone went home.

“They must have stood there with the mannequins not daring to move a muscle – imagine if they wanted to sneeze or had an itch they couldn’t scratch!”