More than $45,000 worth of designer clothing was reported stolen in a Tuesday morning break-in at Sharon Batten’s store in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Dresses, jackets, suits and other pieces by Oscar de la Renta, Lela Rose, Moschino and other noted designers were among the items listed as missing after St. Johns County sheriff’s deputies responded to a 2 a.m. burglary alarm.
“I can’t imagine why they came here,” Batten said on Tuesday afternoon. “There’s no money in the store. What would they do with the clothes?”
And even though expensive clothing was taken, “they took no jewelry, no wedding” apparel, for which, Batten said, she was grateful. They appeared to have “grabbed things at random,” leaving behind “a big mess,” including broken glass that had to be cleaned up.
According to the sheriff’s office report, Deputy Thomas Coward responded to the burglary alarm. Seeing broken glass and items of clothing on the sidewalk, he called for additional back-up and K-9 units.
No suspects were found at the scene. It is believed that they fled in a waiting vehicle. Property crimes detectives are continuing to investigate the incident.
