Buyers are warned to be on the lookout for suspiciously cheap designer handbags after a ram raid on a luxury store.
Italian designer fashion retailer Fendi was the target of the attack in Sydney's city-centre early on Wednesday, when tens of thousands of dollars worth of items were stolen from the shopfront, police say.
Chief Inspector Gary Coffey said a Lexus SUV, stolen on Monday night, was driven on to the pavement on Elizabeth St about 3:45am and smashed the shop window.
"Three offenders got out of that that vehicle and entered the store.
"They stole a number of luxury handbags and other items," Insp Coffey told reporters on Wednesday.
Broken glass scattered across the footpath and empty shopfront displays greeted police and store employees when they arrived at the scene.
The stolen Lexus used in the ram raid was left outside the store and the raiders fled in two other vehicles, a white BMW and a grey Audi, which were stolen on Tuesday night.
The attackers wore hoods and gloves, making multiple trips into the store.
But the car left behind has police hopeful of finding some forensic evidence to track them down.
The ram raid appeared to have a degree of planning due to the number of people involved and the use of multiple stolen vehicles, Insp Coffey said.
He warned people to be wary of online advertisements spruiking cheap handbags following the ram raid.
"If people do see luxury handbags for sale on various platforms at prices that are below normal market value, those bags may well be stolen.
"They probably want to get rid of their items as quickly as possible.
"If it looks too good to be true, it probably is," Insp Coffey said.
Sydney's ram raid comes a few months after five men were arrested over similar attacks in Victoria.
Six luxury stores were targeted in a spree of Melbourne ram raids in March and April, with goods worth more than $1 million stolen.
