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<\/p>\nThe designer of luxury leather handbag label Yu Mei is “gutted” after a thief broke into her studio and stole 70 bags.<\/p>\n
The burglary was a few floors above Yu Mei’s flagship store on Wellington’s Victoria St on the morning of January 4, when designer Jessie Wong was on holiday.<\/p>\n
“It’s obviously a bit of a blow and not the best way to start the New Year,” Wong told the Herald.<\/p>\n
She said the thief “cleared out as much as they could in one go”. Among the 70 missing handbags are three irreplaceable ones, which were created as part of a special collaboration to celebrate Matariki.<\/p>\n
The full retail value of the stolen goods would be close to $50,000, Wong estimated.<\/p>\n
A police spokesperson said inquiries into the burglary were ongoing and at this stage no charges have been laid.<\/p>\n
“We ask that members of the public remain wary of high-end handbags potentially being sold online following the burglary.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Wong thought the culprit must have scoped out the building ahead of time to plan the break-in.<\/p>\n
She said they entered the fourth floor of the building and got through the locked door to the studio likely with some sort of metal object.<\/p>\n
“We can hear someone forcibly opening the door on the camera system, and then hear something that sounds like metal falling on the ground.”<\/p>\n
The thief then disabled the camera system by pulling out the connecting cables, Wong said.<\/p>\n
Boxes of stock were taken and wheeled out on a trolley already in the studio. None of the handbags have been seen since.<\/p>\n
Wong is most upset about losing the three created through a M\u0101ori-led Matariki kaupapa, titled Wh\u0101nau M\u0101rama (Celestial Bodies).<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Wong worked with artist Nikau Hindin on the bags.<\/p>\n
“These bags were a true labour of love and Nikau and I would just really love to see them returned, even if it’s anonymous,” Wong said.<\/p>\n
“The bags were one of my most proud moments at Yu Mei last year. It was just a special thing, we just can’t do it again or make another copy.”<\/p>\n
Hindin was devastated.<\/p>\n
She has lost track of how many hours were spent painting the bags over several weeks.<\/p>\n
“They’re really special pieces. It’s kind of unimaginable they were taken and we don’t have them anymore, because it was a significant project for both of us.<\/p>\n
“I wish that they come back.”<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Wong has since beefed up security at the studio.<\/p>\n
Police asked anyone who saw such handbags for sale, or has any information that could assist them with inquiries, to get in touch via 105 and quote file number 220104\/7961.<\/p>\n
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.<\/p>\n