Philadelphia police shutdown several South street stores Friday after owners were caught selling hundreds of knock-off versions of high-end merchandise.
Police arrested several storeowners from four stores along South Street -- three along the 600 block, one along the 800 block of South street. Investigators seized $500,000 worth of counterfeit wallets, jewelry, handbags, scarves and umbrellas.
According to police, high-end manufactures hired an investigation firm to locate stores who were selling knockoff versions of their products at a fraction of the price. Once the investigators found the stores they called Philadelphia police.
“The people who are buying it, that’s one thing but we need to stop the people who are selling this merchandise especially when they go brazen by opening a retail store and selling nothing but counterfeits,” said the private investigator who helped with the raid.
All the merchandise seized will be chopped up and recycled, according to police.
