Oak Street Heist Linked to Suburban Louis Vuitton Burglary

Sources tell NBC 5 that the same crew may have hit both stores

A crew of burglars appears to be targeting luxury retailers in Chicago and the suburbs.

NBC 5 has learned that investigators believe a break-in at the Moncler store on Oak Street early Monday is connected to a heist at the Louis Vuitton store in Oak Brook two weeks ago.

Multiple sources confirm that the two crimes are connected and virtually identical, down to the early-morning hour the thefts occurred, the use of a minivan to break the windows and the speed in which the criminals got in and out of the store.

It's not clear how much merchandise was stolen in the Moncler burglary, but coats at the store can cost as much as $3,000. Around $120,000 in goods was taken in the Louis Vuitton heist.

Investigators are looking into the smash-and-grab burglaries and how the criminals might be trying to turn the goods into quick cash. Online designer consignment businesses such as Luxury Garage Sale in Old Town and eDropoff in Lincoln Park are on alert.

"We monitor all luxury store break-ins locally so we can flag any suspicious merchandise that comes through our doors," eDropoff owner Corri McFadden said.

McFadden says all sellers are asked to sign a binding consignment agreement to ensure all items were legally obtained.

High fashion resale web site TheRealReal.com has a team of 10 authenticators to try and ferret out stolen and counterfeit goods, but a spokesperson admitted it can be a difficult process.

Security images captured images of the Louis Vuitton burglary, but surveillance media of the Moncler heist has not yet been released.

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