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Read the press release here.

Suspect Smashing Doors of Upscale Stores in Burglary Spree, Police Say

By Emily Frost | November 26, 2014 1:13pm
 The suspect took five bags from the Big Bag store on West 72nd Street, police said.
The suspect took five bags from the Big Bag store on West 72nd Street, police said.
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NYPD

UPPER WEST SIDE — Police are on the hunt for a savvy burglar who has been smashing through the front doors of high-end retail stores and swiping small amounts of pricey clothing and bags he knows are valuable, police sources said. 

The thief — who police suspect has pulled the same job at least five times at three separate store — kicked off the spree by breaking through the glass front door of the luggage store Big Bag on Aug. 25 and stealing handbags of unspecified value, said Capt. Michael Falcon of the 20th Precinct.

The suspect hit the same Big Bag store again on Nov. 4, breaking a glass pane on the front door about 6:40 a.m. and swiping five pocketbooks worth more than $3,000, police said.

The owner of Big Bag was not available for comment, an employee said. 

The thief also broke into Wyatt Lily, the children's clothing store on Columbus Avenue between West 73rd and 74th streets, by smashing through the front door on Sept. 8. In that incident, he made off with clothing of unspecified value, police said.

The owner was not available for comment, an employee said. 

The suspect continued his spree at Vince, the upscale men's and women's clothing store on Columbus Avenue between West 71st and 72nd streets, where he again broke through the front door and stole clothing on both Oct. 3 and Nov. 5, Falcon said.

An employee at Vince said the store declined to comment. 

The thief "knows exactly what he wants," Falcon noted at a 20th Precinct Community Council meeting Monday, adding that he thinks the suspect is visiting shops during the day to identify expensive items he can easily grab easily.

To try to catch the burglar, who strikes late at night and in the early morning, Falcon said he beefed up the number of officers on overnight patrols. He did not say how many officers he had added to these patrols.

The suspect is using a brick or a rock wrapped in cloth to break the glass, he explained, and "he likes to go back to the same places."

During the Nov. 4 and 5 burglaries, he was wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and a tan hat, police said. 

Anyone with any information can provide a tip confidentially by calling 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), submitting a tip via www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting CRIMES (274637) and then entering TIP577.