SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — A brazen smash and grab was captured on camera Tuesday, and Saratoga Springs Police are now searching for those responsible for cleaning out a local luxury goods store.
Shocking video footage shows the moments two thieves break into Lola Saratoga and making off with tens of thousands of dollars worth of designer handbags in a matter of minutes, leaving the store with a lack of inventory and peace of mind right before the holidays.
Megan Druckman, the owner of Lola Saratoga, was forced to close the store for the day, and spent the morning assessing the damages. Druckman said that upwards of $100,000 worth of inventory was stolen.
“This business is absolutely my baby,” Druckman said. “I started this business ten years ago and I started from nothing and I really put everything I have into this business… so for this to happen to me is really devastating.”
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According to Druckman, the suspects smashed through the front door, made a beeline toward the back of the store and cleaned out a case filled with Chanel, Dior and Birkin bags.
Druckman believes the pair had previously visited the store since they knew exactly where the most expensive items were located.
“We are a small business so this is a huge deal for us,” Druckman said. “And also, right before holiday season, this is when we have the most amount of inventory in our store because the next three weeks are really critical for our business so that we’re able to pay our rent, we’re able to pay our payroll, we’re able to continue to thrive.”
Saratoga Springs mayor-elect John Safford said the brazen activity won’t be tolerated in the city.
“It doesn’t’ happen in Saratoga,” Safford said. “Saratoga will be looking very carefully into this, this is an unusual thing for us. I just got off the phone with commissioner Coll and there is an active investigation going on right now and I have every confidence that we are going to find out why this happened and who did it.”
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This isn’t the only recent experience with thieves for the store. Lola Saratoga’s second location in Albany was also robbed last week. Police are investigating that incident as well.
Saratoga Springs Police said they’re looking for two male suspects who fled in a dark colored sedan. Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator John Guzek at jguzek@saratogapolice.org.
