The Bellevue Police Department (BPD) today confirmed the juveniles arrested for a carjacking at gunpoint last Friday are connected to a theft at a luxury retail shop in Bellevue that same day – with more than $106,000 worth of stolen merchandise lifted from the store.
The targeted store was a Bottega Veneta, a high-end Italian fashion boutique located at The Shops at the Bravern, 11111 NE 8th Street.
According to the store manager of Bottega Veneta, the suspects arrived at the shop at around 6:44pm in a white Hyundai Elantra. As previously reported (see below), the vehicle was confirmed stolen ahead of Friday’s crimes.
The five suspects – wearing all black and with ski masks covering their faces – quickly entered the store and immediately began ripping the merchandise from the display cases. In just about a minute, the suspects had stolen 29 handbags, purses, and tote bags, according to the store manager.
Screenshots from the video of the theft can be seen here:
Hyundai Elantra
from the retail shop
Following the burglary at Bottega Veneta, the suspects then – in an effort to dispose of the stolen Elantra and elude from the scene – targeted the grandmother driving the black BMW at random. The suspects followed the victim until she parked at the 10000 block of SE 13th Place Bellevue, and then proceeded to commit the carjacking.
The suspects who were previously taken into custody for last week’s carjacking and who are also involved with the theft have been additionally booked for Theft of the First Degree (Shoplifting).
The Bellevue PD is continuing its investigation into Friday’s incidents. Additional information about the location of the stolen goods as well as the full scope of suspects involved in both crimes are forthcoming and will be released at a later date.
Click here to view the Bellevue PD’s original post of the carjacking crime.
Bellevue Beat Blog 