Officers say the men hid inside Luxe Du Jour before surrendering as drones and patrol units sealed off the building.
IRVINE, CA — Two men were arrested early Tuesday after Irvine police surrounded a luxury resale store and thwarted what authorities said was a $100,000 handbag burglary. Officers converged on Luxe Du Jour within minutes of a security alert, recovered dozens of high-end bags and took the suspects into custody without injuries, police said.
Police and store representatives said the quick response ended a break-in that mirrored other recent attempts targeting the same business. The arrests came after a security guard reported suspicious activity and watched the men move through the shop on cameras. Investigators say the case is in its early stages but involves coordinated support from neighboring agencies, including a drone team that monitored the roof and rear exits. The owner, who has reported several prior burglaries in recent months, said the crew appeared to know which shelves held the most valuable inventory.
Officers were dispatched just after 3 a.m. to the store in a commercial area of Irvine, where they found a rear door breached and lights on inside, according to police. Patrol cars blocked the driveways as a loudspeaker ordered anyone inside to come out. For several minutes, no one did. Video from the scene shows officers stacking at a side entrance while a drone hovered overhead. “These guys thought they were getting a clean getaway,” Sgt. Kyle Oldoerp said in a brief on-site interview. “As they start to exit, they realize they’ve been discovered.” Soon after, officers entered, searched room by room and located two people hiding in storage space behind display racks.
Authorities identified the suspects as Richard Bernard Spencer, 40, of Los Angeles, and Marcellus Ronell Shelby, 30, of Hollywood. Both were booked into the Orange County Jail on suspicion of commercial burglary and conspiracy. Police said about $100,000 worth of handbags — including designer labels commonly priced in the thousands — were gathered near the back door when officers arrived. The merchandise was photographed as evidence and returned to the store. No firearms were recovered. Investigators said the two men wore dark clothing and gloves and appeared to enter through a pried door. Officers did not immediately release the exact count of bags seized, and the total estimated value remains preliminary.
The store’s founder and chief executive, Tammy Phan, said it was the third incident in recent months. She said previous break-ins targeted Hermès and other rare pieces that resell for high sums. “It just keeps happening,” Phan said, adding that the business increased security and hired a guard after the last hit. She credited the guard for noticing movement outside and alerting police before the men could load a vehicle. Records show resale retailers across Southern California have reported organized crews focusing on small, high-value items that can be fenced quickly. Irvine police said they are reviewing surveillance video frame by frame to determine whether other people scouted the location or served as lookouts.
After officers took Spencer and Shelby into custody, detectives canvassed the parking lot and adjacent streets for a getaway car and tools. A drone from the Costa Mesa Police Department watched the roofline as officers checked air vents and ladders. No additional suspects were found. Police said the shop was cleared and turned back to employees by late morning. Investigators will submit the case to the Orange County district attorney for filing decisions. Potential counts include second-degree burglary, grand theft and conspiracy, depending on inventory valuation. Any arraignment could be scheduled as early as next week, with bail to be set by a judge at that hearing. The store is conducting a full inventory to confirm losses and repair damage to doors and camera mounts.
The response drew a handful of onlookers as dawn traffic picked up along the nearby arterial. One neighboring worker said he arrived to see cruisers blocking entrances and officers “everywhere.” Phan stood in the doorway after the sweep, thanking officers and telling staff to photograph shelves before restocking. “We moved here to grow and hire,” she said. “Seeing police show up this fast means a lot to us and our customers.” Oldoerp said the department has assigned detectives who specialize in retail theft patterns. “Our focus is stopping crews before they hit multiple locations,” he said. “The swift call from security and coordinated response made the difference here.”
As of Saturday, both men remained in custody pending a charging decision, police said. Detectives are comparing the method of entry and clothing to other recent cases and plan to review license plate reader data and nearby business cameras in the coming days. The department expects to release an evidence update next week once the store’s inventory count is finalized.
Author note: Last updated January 11, 2026.