ROXBURY, N.J. (PIX11) -- A Roxbury, New Jersey, secondhand luxury goods shop is beefing up security after being burglarized three times since March. The most recent robbery happened overnight Tuesday around 3 a.m.
Nolan Forlenza, one of the owners of Couture Traders on Route 46, said he’s lost approximately $300,000 in stolen merchandise to date.
Surveillance video shows the masked robbers smashing the store’s front door and forcing their way under a metal gate.
“About two minutes, they were outta here,” said Forlenza. “The police showed up about 30 seconds after they left.”
Forlenza said the thieves target high-end designers like Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Gucci.
“Luckily we have insurance, but our biggest fear is that our insurance provider is going to drop us after this, or at least increase our premiums too much to continue,” said Forlenza.
It’s unclear if all three robberies are connected. Roxbury police are increasing patrols in the area and keeping a closer eye on the business overnight.
The problem is unfortunately not unique to Couture Traders, which has been in business since 2016.
“We’ve been finding that a lot of consignment shops are also getting robbed,” said Forlenza. “We’re not the only one.”
On Monday, Millburn police said a group of five masked robbers looted the Chanel store in The Mall at Short Hills during business hours. One reportedly sprayed a fire extinguisher at a security guard, while the other four made off with pricey handbags.
Last Tuesday, thieves also stole approximately $100,000 worth of merchandise from the Balenciaga store at American Dream. New Jersey State Police said two men and two women robbed the store in the middle of the afternoon.
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