Suspects Left Holding the Hermès Bags

Suspected shoplifters got left holding some very expensive bags when they were stopped by police Wednesday evening after fleeing a designer boutique in Livingston with two Hermès purses worth $17,300.

Livingston Police arrested five people after the owner of Duet Designer Consignment reported two Birkin bags were taken from the store on S. Livingston Avenue. Carried by A-List celebs, the handmade purses were each worth more than $8,000.

West Orange Police stopped a Cadillac Escalade described as the getaway vehicle shortly after the theft was broadcast around 6:30 p.m. to local police departments. The owner of Duets identified two of the five people in the SUV as suspects who fled the shop with the handbags.

Livingston Det. Sgt. Ron Barbella said police found two of the pricey status bags, a brown Birkin worth $8,500 and $8,800 cream-colored Birkin bag, and burglar tools in the SUV.

Livingston police charged Natoya Moffatt, 25, of Guttenberg, N.J., and Blake Bostic Vance III, 25, of Brooklyn, N.Y., with shoplifting, and conspiracy to commit shoplifting.

The store’s owner reported the two suspects posed as customers who asked to see the handbags. Moffatt reportedly modeled the bags and took photos of them on the counter, Barbella said. She left the store saying she wanted the opinion of her sister, who was waiting in the car.

Vance then allegedly grabbed the expensive bags and ran out the store, according to the police report.

The owner called Livingston Police and reported the bags stolen and described the getaway as a black SUV.

A short time later, West Orange Police stopped a car fitting the description.

The Duet owner was escorted to West Orange Police Headquarters, where she was able to identify two of the five occupants of the car as the alleged shoplifters. All five were taken to the Livingston police station.

In addition to the two suspects charged with shoplifting, the other passengers were charged with possession of burglar tools found in the back of the SUV: Shamonique Jamila Harvey, 20, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Laqueisha Chavers, 25, of the Bronx; and Ernesto Myers, 30, of Brooklyn. Myers, the driver, was also issued four motor vehicle summons.

They are being held at Livingston Police Headquarters until all the paperwork has been processed, Barbella said. Livingston Municipal Court set bail at $10,000 for Moffet and Bostic; and $1,000 for the three other suspects.