Purses worth $50K stolen from Barneys in Chicago

CHICAGO -- Chicago police are searching for three suspects after more than a dozen purses were stolen from a high-end retail store on Oak Street in the Gold Coast neighborhood.

The theft took place at Barneys New York around 10:08 a.m. Wednesday, just after the store opened and when few customers were inside.

Police said three suspects - 2 males and one female - went into the store, grabbed several purses, then fled in a waiting vehicle.

Barneys has not commented on the incident, but police said the thieves made off with about 15 to 17 purses, valued at upwards of $50,000.

No weapons were shown and no one was injured or threatened, police said.

The brazen theft took place near the intersection of Rush and Oak streets, the most exclusive shopping district in the city.

"We heard nothing about it and we've been in the store for the last three hours," Susan Beck said. "It happened at Neiman, now they're having it here. What's the security? This is an international destination where people want to come, they want to have fun, they want to shop and it's the last thing they want to think about."

It is believed the thieves were caught on surveillance video inside the store. Police are reviewing that video.

No arrests have been made.