£70,000 worth of one-off designer garments stolen in “terrifying” robbery - police appeal launched

Police are appealing for help after £70,000 worth of one-off designer garments belonging to a British fashion designer were stolen from a car following a photo shoot. A total of 62 unique pieces belonging to luxury designer Claire Mischevani were stolen by masked thieves as she loaded her car after a photoshoot in London’s Belgravia.

The Metropolitan Police said the incident took place at around 8pm on February 16, when the designer and a second woman were loading the clothes into the back of a Range Rover outside a house in Chester Row, SW1.

The incident took place when Mischevani and her assistant went into the property to get more items to load in the car but when they left, they heard a car alarm go off so ran outside. When they got back to the car they discovered three men dressed in balaclavas and all-black closing beside the smashed window of the vehicle.

The victims were ‘terrified’ when one of the suspects ran towards the woman waving the item used to smash the window, shouted at them to get back inside the address.  The women then called the police and watched the suspects smash more car windows before stealing a navy suitcase, a black overnight bag and 15 garment bags of various sizes.

Fashion designer Claire Mischevani is said to have been left traumatised by the events. She said: “The whole incident was beyond terrifying for both myself and my assistant.

"To come face to face with armed masked men stealing my belongings is something I never thought would happen and something I would never wish on anyone.

"The events have had a profound and devastating impact on me, in a City I have always felt safe I was overcome with fear and have since found it difficult to sleep as I relive the whole experience again.