Armed robbers hit Chanel boutique in central Paris

Three robbers with pump-action shotguns raided a Chanel boutique in central Paris on Thursday, fleeing with a large haul of luxury goods, a police source said.

The source said the stolen goods were valued at "several hundreds of thousands of euros". The robbery took place in the city's chic Avenue Montaigne, home to many luxury stores, which is just off the Champs-Elysees.

The robbery was confirmed by staff at the shop, where windows were smashed during the raid. "I saw some guys come out, wearing masks," one witness told AFP. "Without thinking, I put myself in front of their car. Then I saw one of them was carrying a gun so I left."

Another Chanel boutique on the same street was raided last month by thieves who rammed the storefront with a 4x4 car in the early hours of the morning. In that incident, the robbers escaped by scooter after stealing several luxury handbags, police said.

(AFP)

Photo: Chanel Spring-Summer 2016 Ready-to-Wear campaign, Facebook.