Thieves hit Victoria's Secret stores

RALEIGH, N.C., July 30 (UPI) -- North Carolina police say hundreds of women's undergarments and perfumes have been stolen from Victoria's Secret stores in Raleigh, Cary and Durham.

Police said nearly $20,000 worth of bras, panties and perfume were taken from one Raleigh store, located at Triangle Town Center, in eight separate shoplifting incidents since March, the Raleigh News and Observer said Monday.

Cary, N.C., police said nearly $4,000 in bras and panties have been stolen from a Cary Towne Center store and Durham police said perfume and undergarments valued at $12,917 were taken from stores at Northgate Mall and Streets at Southpoint.

Police said they are unsure whether the shoplifting cases are connected. There are similarities between some incidents, including several where a store clerk was distracted by an accomplice while others shoplifted.

"It certainly could be... part of a larger scheme," said Raleigh police spokesman Jim Sughrue.