Hermes seller shares details on bags stolen in HK$10 million burglary in Hong Kong

Kelly 25 Epsom handbag with market value of HK$198,000 among 66 items stolen in burglary in Central’s New World Tower on November 30

Luxury goods retailer Ginza Xiaoma has shared more details about the 66 Hermes handbags taken during a burglary at its Hong Kong store, with most of the stolen goods coming from the highly popular Kelly and Birkin lines.

The company also reiterated on Wednesday night that it had fully compensated clients who had entrusted their Hermes handbags to the store for resale, days after robbers made off with millions of dollars’ worth of items.

The goods stolen from the store at Central’s New World Tower include a Kelly 25 Epsom handbag with a market value of HK$198,000 (US$25,400), as well as a HK$168,000 Kelly 25 Togo and a HK$148,000 Birkin 25 Tadelakt. All three are brown.

“This sudden incident in Hong Kong’s prime business district has not only caused us great distress but has also attracted widespread public attention,” a spokesman said.

“Despite the sudden nature of the incident … within the same day, we completed 100 per cent full compensation for all affected clients, including lost and damaged goods.

“Regardless of the outcome of the police investigation or whether we can hold relevant parties accountable, we have always insisted on putting our clients’ interests first and ensuring their rights are protected as quickly as possible.”

Hong Kong police are still investigating the HK$10 million smash-and-grab, which took place in the early hours of November 30 and lasted only five minutes.

Footage from the store’s surveillance cameras shows three masked individuals breaking down the store’s glass entrance door, before prying or smashing open cabinets containing the bags.

Two security experts have said the burglars appeared to have knowledge of the building’s layout and the shop interior, noting the thieves might have scouted out the place beforehand.

Company founder and CEO Xiaoma also vowed to upgrade security measures at its stores and purchase separate insurance for consigned goods.

She said the company had not previously considered either option since the shop in Hong Kong was located in a grade A office building with “extremely high security”.

Steve Vickers, CEO of specialist risk consulting company Steve Vickers and Associates, said: “To blame the building is a bit unfair because it’s an office building, not a high security location.”

He said grade A office spaces were typically expected to have a watchman for external security, meaning premises outside the tenants’ office spaces.

“Office areas are … more designed to protect people and access than they are high-value items, that’s a different kind of structure,” he said.Vickers said it was also “very surprising” that so many high-value items had been stored in the space with such little overnight security.

Apart from enhancing security measures, he recommended the company avoid storing items in the office altogether and conduct stronger staff background checks.

Guardforce sales manager Kelvin Wong Ka-leung said judging from the thieves’ swiftness and preparedness, it was likely they were highly experienced and knew exactly where to strike.

“They likely conducted reconnaissance missions before the burglary to gather information about the building’s layout and security measures,” he said, adding it would be quite difficult for staff to have noticed that beforehand.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they or an accomplice had posed as customers and may even have bought a few items initially, to keep people’s guard down.”

He also said the timing of the burglary, around 7.45am, was typically when security guards changed shifts, adding to the likelihood the thieves had scoped out the building beforehand.

Xiaoma said: “This sudden incident is a vivid and real lesson for our team.

“Although this is a huge test … It has made us realise more deeply the company’s responsibilities and growth potential.”

The company said that going forward, it would enhance security by upgrading its surveillance and alarm systems, and purchase the relevant insurance for all consigned goods.

“As the New World Tower in Central is considered a grade A office building with extremely high security, we did not previously purchase separate insurance for consignment goods,” the spokesman said.

According to Ginza Xiaoma’s website, the company specialises in the resale, consignment, and exchange of Hermes handbags, with physical stores in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore.