An Indonesian woman was reportedly apprehended at Melbourne’s international airport for allegedly stealing handbags from a French luxury brand.
According to reports, the woman went to a Louis Vuitton store at Whiteman street in Southbank neighborhood, south of Melbourne’s CBD, at around 1pm on May 19. Police said that she initially asked to check out some handbags before asking to try on several pairs of shoes. While the sales assistant was away to fetch the shoes at the storeroom, she allegedly managed to conceal two bags and ran away.
The bags she took reportedly had a combined retail value of more than AUD$11,000 (US$7,631).
After they were notified of the alleged theft, local police arrested the woman at the Tullamarine Airport, where she was going to embark on her flight home to Indonesia, on Sunday.
The woman, who is believed to be in her 20s or early 30s but hasn’t been identified by the Australian authorities, was also alleged to have possessed stolen high end clothes and accessories with an estimated combined value of AUD$50,000 (US$34,671). Carrying a search warrant, police found other suspected stolen items at her residence in Carlton neighborhood.
The woman, who has been charged with theft and has been released on bail, is scheduled to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Oct. 2.
Faisal, a representative from the Indonesian Consulate General in Melbourne, confirmed the arrest but said that the mission can’t provide further details about the case due to Australia’s Privacy Act. He said that the consulate general will provide legal assistance to the woman.
