Photo Released Of Suspects' Vehicle In Westport Fur Heist: Update

WESTPORT, CT — A witness photograph of the getaway vehicle in Friday's $11,000 fur coat heist at Albe Furs has been released by Westport police. See the original story below.

The vehicle is a black Jeep, "which has some noteworthy damage on its driver's side rear," according to authorities. The heist occurred at about 11:30 a.m., and after the thieves jumped into the waiting vehicle, it sped off northbound on the Post Road East.

"The suspects' vehicle was bearing a New York registration plate at the time of the incident; the number of which was provided to officers by an eyewitness," said Westport Police Lt. Anthony Prezioso. "Further investigation into that registration plate number ultimately revealed that it had been stolen from its rightful owner and was being improperly used on the suspects' vehicle."

The case remains under active investigation as the department works to identify the suspects.

Anyone with additional information about the incident and/or the vehicle is urged to contact the Westport Police Department's Detective Bureau at 203-341-6080.

Original story: Fur coats worth more than $11,000 were stolen from Albe Furs Friday morning in a snatch-and-run theft inside the Post Road East store, according to Westport police. No injuries were reported.

The incident occurred at about 11:30 a.m. when three men entered the store, grabbed several fur coats from displays and ran out. They jumped into a waiting vehicle that was parked in the lot and sped off.

"Multiple witnesses provided officers with a description of the suspects as well as of their vehicle; including a registration marker plate number," Westport Police Lt. Anthony Prezioso said in a statement. "This description and vehicle information was broadcast to all patrols who began systematically searching the area for the vehicle, however there was no immediate contact."

The exact number of furs stolen was not disclosed, as the store conducts an inventory. The total monetary loss could end up being "significantly higher" than the preliminary $11,000 figure, according to police.

"After learning of today’s incident, another local business contacted police to report that what they believed to be the same suspects had been in their store on Thursday November 21, 2019 inquiring about fur coats, however nothing was taken at that time," Prezioso said, declining to identify the local business.

Any business that "believes it may have been recently visited by these suspects," or anyone with additional information on Friday's theft is urged to contact the Westport Police Department’s Detective Bureau at 203-341-6080.