Fairfax County police are searching for six people who allegedly stole over $100,000 worth of handbags from a department store at Tysons Galleria on Tuesday (June 25).
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, detectives responded to a robbery “at a high-end retail store” in the 2000 block of International Drive at 3:42 p.m.
Police say two men and three women “entered the store and grabbed numerous handbags.”
“One male suspect discharged a fire extinguisher at the loss prevention employee to facilitate his fleeing from the store,” the FCPD said in a press release. “No injuries were sustained during the robbery.”
The department confirmed FOX5’s report that the targeted store was Chanel. According to FOX5, the fashion retailer closed for the remainder of the day and reopened at 11 a.m. yesterday (Wednesday).
According to police, a sixth person drove the group away in a white Alfa Romeo vehicle.
“Detectives believe the suspects are using the same vehicle and using stolen or altered license plates,” the FCPD said.
An investigation into the robbery is underway.
According to FCPD data, crimes against property — a broad category that includes robbery, auto thefts and arson, among other offenses — have increased this year. There have been 9,114 incidents so far, including 8,122 larcenies and 217 robberies, compared to 8,746 incidents at this time in 2023.
Chanel has had a presence at Tysons Galleria since 2004, but it opened a new boutique in the mall this past May that’s three times the size of its previous store, the fashion trade journal WWD reported.
