A gang of thieves smashed their way into a Scots high-end clothes shop and cleared it out of £80,000 worth of designer gear.
Photos of the aftermath of last night’s raid at Overhype in Aberdeen show the front door prised open and empty clothes hangers strewn across the floor.
An online appeal has been launched to get the independent business back up and running after its young entrepreneur owners only moved into the premises two weeks ago.
Gutted co-owner Liam Duncan, 22, said: “It’s like we’re in a movie. I just can’t believe it’s actually happening - all the hard work and time we’ve put into it.”
Liam and partner Sam Rattray, 18, are now looking to raise £40,000 to replace stock, fix-up the shop and pay staff until they can reopen.
He said: “The insurance is going to cover it because we hadn’t got the security system set-up yet.”
The online fundraiser had topped £5,000 tonight as customers rallied round the pair in their hour of need.
And the pair are scouring websites and asking shoppers to look-out for any of their distinctive stock including brands Gucci, Stone Island and Louis Vuitton.
Liam said: “A lot of the stuff was specific items with only a couple of hundred made worldwide so if they pop-up online, it’s pretty suspicious.”
Police are now investigating with a possible crucial lead emerging this evening that one of the thieves may have been injured during the raid.
Liam said: “It’s been a bit of a long day and the police have found blood in the shop so hopefully we’ll hear back in a couple of days.”
Officers are also conducting door-to-door enquiries and trawling any CCTV for possible clues.
Detective Sergeant John Pirie, North East CID, said: "I am appealing to anyone who may have any information about the break-in to come forward.
“A five figure sum of clothing was stolen from the shop along with a small sum of cash.
“Officers are carrying out enquiries and reviewing CCTV in an effort to establish who was responsible.”
Anyone with information can contact officers on 101 quoting reference number 0898 of Tuesday, December 1, 2020 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Those wishing to make a donation can visit the Overhype fundraising page.
