Knokke-Heist (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Thieves broke into Lotte Louise’s luxury store in Knokke-Heist on 7th October, stealing over €1 million in merchandise within two minutes. Owner Stéphanie Lotte expressed shock, recalling a previous handbag sold for €200,000. Police are investigating the incident
On 7th October, around 3:40 a.m., thieves broke into a luxury store on Lippenslaan. They made a hole in the roof and used a ladder to get inside. They stole all the high-end merchandise in less than two minutes, indicating they knew exactly what to target. Their quick and precise actions suggest they had prior knowledge of the store’s layout and valuable items.
What led to the €1M heist at the Lotte Louise store in Knokke-Heist?
It has been said that this suspicion is supported by the fact that last year, the store’s owner, Lotte Louise, sold a special handbag for a huge 200,000 euros. The total value of the items stolen in this break-in is estimated to be over 1 million euros, making it one of the largest thefts in the area.
Authorities are investigating the crime, hoping to recover the stolen items and catch the thieves. Stéphanie Lotte, the shop owner, is in shock after her store was robbed. “I worked hard for 15 years. Now there is nothing left, just empty shelves and a broken future,” she said. The local police in Dame/Knokke-Heist are investigating the incident by reviewing camera footage that shows several burglars who didn’t flee immediately when the alarm went off. Instead, they first took the most expensive handbags before grabbing more items. Commissioner Marc Baert mentioned that the total number of stolen items is still unknown and that the investigation is ongoing, with the store remaining closed for now.
