UPDATED: Thieves Conspired To Steal Nearly $9,000 Worth of Coats From Hinsdale Furriers

UPDATED: 10:15 p.m.

On Feb. 10, two shoplifters stole two mink coats from Hinsdale Furriers' showroom. The value of the coats is estimated to be nearly $9,000.

"They came in with a plan," said Susie Duboe-Bryant, owner of Hinsdale Furriers. "They caused a distraction and waited for the most opportune moment to snatch a coat."

Duboe-Bryant said that one of the shoplifters distracted one of the store's clerks by asking to use the restroom.

"We don't allow anyone in the back alone, so a staff person walked one of them to the washroom." Duboe-Bryant said. The reason for this is that the shop also stores coats for customers.

"There is no way [shoplifters] can get to our customers coats," said Duboe-Bryant. "They are safely put in our vaults."

Duboe-Bryant said that while one shoplifter distracted a clerk in the restroom area, the other shoplifter caused a diversion to distract the other store clerk in the showroom in order to steal the minks.

A police report said it took less than half an hour for the thieves to steal the minks from the store's showroom, with the time of theft being between 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Duboe-Bryant said that although the theft was upsetting, she is grateful that the situation was not worse.

"I'm very thankful it wasn't someone with a gun," said Duboe-Bryant. "We are making changes to our security, so [a theft like this] won't happen again."

NOTE: The story below has been corrected above. Police listed the value of the missing coats as $28,490. Susie Duboe-Bryant called Patch to say that the actual value of the coats was less than $9,000.

Earlier: Nearly $30,000 Worth of Coats Stolen From Hinsdale Furriers

On Feb. 10, someone entered on First Street and stole two fur coats. According to police, the store manager who reported it, said it happened between 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The value of the two coats is approximately $28,490.