Rachel Uchitel, the owner of high-end children’s clothing store Wyatt Lily on Columbus between 73rd and 74th, contacted us this morning to let us know that the store had been burglarized overnight after the windows were smashed.
“In case you want to know my store Wyatt lily boutique on 74th and Columbus was broken into last night at 215 a.m. We are a high end store featuring gifts and clothes for newborn to 6yrs old. Whoever it was had used piece of furniture to break through the front door. It looks like they had been in the store before hand during business hours to look at the inventory and prices because ONLY/ ALL of the most expensive items were stolen such as raincoats priced more than $150.00. We are estimating over 8k of merchandise was stolen. Cops waited on the scene all night until we got to the store at 730 a.m. to assess the damage. We have an alarm. We are brightly lit at night when closed.
Just a few weeks before everything off the rack outside of Pookie and Sebastian was stolen and we hear of neighborhood theft more often than we should.
This burglar was very smart about it and this was not done on a whim. Retail stores should be aware.”
She says that police took fingerprints and are reviewing security footage from the eyeglass store next door.
If they had an alarm, why didn’t the police get there until the burglar(s) were long gone?
A thief could have been in and out in a matter of minutes. If it took the police even 5 minutes to respond it could be too late.
Sorry to hear about this.
Hope we are not sliding back into the abyss.
At the risk of starting yet another classist fire storm:
Can someone please explain why an “infant to 6-year-old” needs a “raincoat priced more than $150”?
Does it keep the child drier — during the six months before the child outgrows it — than a $30 to $40 raincoat?
Does it allow the child to compete better with his or her peers for the important prestige of “best dressed in the sandbox”?
Or does it just let Mommy prove to the other customers at Starbucks or SuperCycle that the banker she married has a higher net worth than theirs?
I hate to see any business vandalized like this, and share the hope that it does portend a return to more troubled times. But “high-end children’s clothing” baffles me as a clothing option, unless it’s really intended to refer to “clothing for high-end children”, in which case it just offends me.
You got something against rich people, move to Staten Island. This here is the UWS of Manhattan. Get over it!
I was here first.
FIFO
Sorry — meant to write “does *not* portend a return to more troubled times”
I totally agree Cato. Why would anyone buy clothes that are outrageously price for infants to 6 years old when they practically grow out of the clothes as soon as you put them on the kids. Totally ridiculous! Although, burglarizing is never good.
We live in one of the most expensive places in the country, there are people with a lot of money to spend. I hardly think $150 raincoat is that outrageous compared to $6000 rent for a 2 BR apartment.
The customers of this store are supporting a local, small business that caters to a niche market. Live and let live guys, it’s not your money they’re wasting.
That sums it up nicely. As long as someone’s spending money in the ‘hood and keeping people employed, who cares??
Couldn’t have said it better Sam (and others that chimed in). Cato and the like sound quite sad and a little pathetic. Personally, I have no inclination to shop at some of the more expensive shops, but I much prefer to see them in our neighborhood than another Duane Reade, Starbucks or Chase.
Well said Sam.
Haters gonna hate.
Not really the forum to rant and question a legitimate taxpaying , employee hiring business on a post where it was a victim of a costly crime.
I’ve been living in the UWS for only a few months. I have already experienced 2 daylight, ”live” store thefts since then. One was at GAP (Broadway & 67st) and the other one only a few weeks ago at CVS (West End Ave). Both cases the employees saw it and thief just walked out the door with merchandise….
I’m just curious how you became aware of the thefts? I shop at that CVS often and I guess I’m oblivious to it.
I do know that a store “greeter” is there at the self-serve registers watching folks come and go. It takes a bold person to walk out without paying since they will definitely be seen.
Employees aren’t allowed to apprehend thieves – security also not allowed to go beyond store entryway. It’s for their safety
This sounds so fishy, wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out to be a publicity stunt aimed at saving an ailing business. Whenever I walk past this place it’s empty and on the rare occasion I have been inside I walked straight back out because I am simply unwilling to pay $80 for a tiny tank top or anything that is hand-wash only… Sorry, rant over.
Agreed, my first thought was insurance fraud.
The owner Rachel Uchitel – Tiger Wood’s ex-girlfriend?
Yes, the same one who was on “Celebrity Rehab” for “love addiction.” People may also remember her for being on the front page of the Post (or was it the NYDN?) in the days following 9/11, as she searched for her boyfriend.
I also thought, “Could this be a reality show stunt?” but then, upon reading details, realized this is most likely legit.
It continues to surprise me when people say that crime is down in NYC. Certainly doesn’t feel that way on the UWS; particularly from the all the reporting that WSR has done on these incidents over the past several months.
I’ve lived around this block for nearly 10 years and have never seen something so brazen as breaking in through a glass door in the middle of the night to steal merchandise. Let’s hope that the NYPD crack down hard on this and is not a sign of things to come. Small business owners (rich or not) don’t need more challenges to running effective and successful businesses.
Part of the problem here is that this isn’t the UES or SOHO. There are more housing projects, SRO’s. low income rent stabilized tenants per square mile (not wealthy famous actresses, well off lawyers, etc. living legally but unethically in stabilized apts or regular middle income people who have been fortunate enough through lineage or luck to have one)than SOHO or UES which has the same upscale shops. So, what do you expect, entitled ones? You don’t mind driving us long term west siders out with your ridiculous shops and glass towers, so you need to be willing to get in the dirt with the rest of us. Get used to it. While the Needle Park days are long gone, certain aspects of the UWS will never change. There’s always going to be a percentage of the population here who thinks defecating in the street, spitting on sidewalks, walking around with your crack hanging out, robbing cell phones from children, etc. etc. is all find and dandy. So like it or move so we can get our hood back. I can’t wait for the responses from all the usual suspects who seem to have nothing better to do, yes you know who you are! Over and out.
Okay, I will bite.
Huh?
So that makes everything okay?
I think you are just trolling and don’t believe and / or accept what you wrote as gospel.
out and over!
Crack is whack!
I grew up in mitchell lama housing on the upper west side of the late 70’s and 80’s. my kids are first generation Americans and I am proud to raise them in the neighborhood which allowed me to get an education and start a business of my own. I am also thankful that we live in a free country where I can choose to buy $500 shoes for my kids or donate $500 to an underpriviledged children’s music program. I am very sorry to hear when a shop is held up whether they sell second hand goods or diamond tiaras. I know someone worked hard to open and keep that shop and to provide a decent job to the people that staff it.
You don’t have to frequent it but that’s your choice. You also don’t need to bad mouth its owner or customers. The mom shopping there might have inherited her money or worked 7 days a week and saved it to buy her child something special. Her choice. You don’t walk in those shoes. Respect your neighbors and we can all happily coexist together.
@Viola, I couldn’t agree with you more!
*burgled
Thew burglar was probably a mother who could not afford the super high prices charged at this rip off store, but felt a need to keep up with the Jones’s.