5 Teens Steal $20,000 In Purses From Louis Vuitton: Police

NORTHBROOK, IL — A group of shoplifters stole about $20,000 worth of merchandise Monday from a store at Northbrook Court, police said.

Five men or boys believed to be teenagers covered their faces with scarves before going into the Louis Vuitton store around 7:30 p.m., grabbing about 10 purses and running out of the store, according to Northbrook police.

Witnesses reported the incident was over in a matter of seconds, police said. The fleeing thieves ran into a white sedan, which was last seen speeding away east on Lake Cook Road.

Police said investigators are working with the Chicago Police Department to determine whether the retail theft was related to an incident that occurred Monday night in Chicago.

Related: Shoplifting Group Steals Purses, Robs Shopper At Northbrook Court

Wednesday morning, Northbrook police released still images captured from mall surveillance video and a clip of the fleeing thieves recorded by the dashboard-mounted camera of a patrol car.

According to a village spokesperson, the officer attempted to stop the getaway car for driving recklessly after seeing it speed across the Northbrook Court parking lot — even without knowing it was fleeing the theft at the Louis Vuitton.

The officer did not pursue the white car because of its reckless speed, according to the spokesperson. The same officer soon got the call about the grab-and-run retail theft that had just taken place.