Two unsuspecting shoppers were caught in the middle of a counterfeit handbag bust in Manhattan on Thursday.
Police swooped on six vans packed with fake Louis Vuitton, Coach, and Burberry bags in Chinatown. As they closed in on a seventh vehicle the seller panicked. He quickly shut the doors, trapping the shocked customers inside!
The bargain shoppers were released unharmed by the police. The seller is now facing charges including unlawful imprisonment.
“These vans acted as their storefronts,” explained Lieutenant Enrique Santos, commanding officer of the trademark unit.
“It was actually like a little showroom.”
The designer counterfeits were selling at $25 to $50 each, a price which has held steady even in the economic crisis.
“I don’t think the recession is affecting it at all,” Lieutenant Santos said.
He added that while the rip-off merchants were stubborn, his squad was committed to getting rid of them.
“We’re not just going to let this go by every day,” he added. “We’re actively pursuing these crimes.”
That’s good news for our favorite designers and any shoppers who’ve unwittingly purchased the counterfeit wares!
