Hollywood could not have done it better. Designer items from some of by world’s top brands have been stolen from a downtown Nanjing store this week, right under the eye of the largest concentration of surveillance cameras, in a heist worth some ¥13 million.
On the morning of 20 January, the doors of the Daniu Global Second-Hand Luxury Exchange Centre (大牛全球二手奢侈品交流中心) were closed. They remained that way until 09:45 as staff arrived one by one to begin their shifts.
Daniu Exchange Centre is located on Shigu Lu in Nanjing, near the intersection with Fengfu Lu. Having been tipped off, reporters from Modern Times were soon on the scene, speaking to the owners of neighbouring stores. One said,“When we came to work, police were surrounding the store as if there had been a break in”.
At 10:00, several police officers entered the store, after which the roller door was again lowered. This was not before reporters had time to notice a large hole in the ceiling of the store near the door. They estimated the hole to be large enough for an adult to pass through.
While police are at this time remaining tight lipped about exactly what may have happened during the heist as they conduct their investigation, it appears the the theft took place during the night of Tuesday, 19 January.
That which has been confirmed is that a total 68 luxury items were stolen during the raid, including watches, jewelry and bags, with a total value of more than ¥13 million.
Among the items stolen were Gucci tiger bags, large green fans by Bulgari and high-end watches from the likes of Rolex, Constantin and Patek Philippe.
Daniu Exchange Centre enjoys a reputation as something of a local celebrity and is well-liked among consumers. Customer feedback on review portal, Dazhong Dianping, is generally very favourable, with many vowing that they will return to the store for their next 40 or 50-thousand-renminbi watch.
Yet, questions remain about the heist, such as how the intruders managed to evade being caught on security cameras within the store. Hopes are high that the ongoing police invention may provide answers.
Thanks to an efficient police force and a culture that puts theft below the standing of most Chinese people, large-scale heists of this nature are rare occurrences indeed. That such an incident could occur in the very heart of Nanjing is a sign of either complacence on the part of the shop owners or the signature of a very daring set of thieves indeed.
