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Two bungling burglars were caught red-handed by heavily armed cops as they tried to sneak into a high-end store and make off with $100,000 worth of luxury handbags — and it was all caught on camera.

The would-be purse plunderers’ antics were posted to Instagram in dramatic new footage from California’s Irvine Police Department as they tried to escape the posh shop with several bags in hand — but cops and a canine unit were waiting for them.


  Two burglars broke into a high-end store and attempted to steal $100,000 worth of luxury handbags in Irvine, Calif. Irvine Police Department/Instagram Two burglars broke into a high-end store and attempted to steal $100,000 worth of luxury handbags in Irvine, Calif. Irvine Police Department/Instagram

  The would-be thieves were ID’d as Richard Spencer, 40, of LA, and Marcellus Shelby, 30, of Hollywood. Irvine Police Department/Instagram The would-be thieves were ID’d as Richard Spencer, 40, of LA, and Marcellus Shelby, 30, of Hollywood. Irvine Police Department/Instagram

The hoodie-clad criminals were spotted early Monday morning brazenly climbing up the side of a building. Once inside the unidentified store, surveillance footage shows the thieves grabbing every luxury bag in sight. 

But a security guard had already alerted cops, who jumped into action, Irvine PD said.

Heavily armed officers with what appear to be assault rifles searched the building as a drone flew overhead looking for the criminals. At one point, the pair open an exit door, then immediately slam it shut and sprint up a set of nearby stairs, footage shows.


  The perpetrators were caught after a security guard alerted the Irvine Police Department. Irvine Police Department/Instagram The perpetrators were caught after a security guard alerted the Irvine Police Department. Irvine Police Department/Instagram

  All $100,000 worth of handbags were recovered and returned to the store. Irvine Police Department/Instagram All $100,000 worth of handbags were recovered and returned to the store. Irvine Police Department/Instagram

Once police catch up to the criminals, seven armed cops and a K-9 unit order the pair to hit the ground. The failed thieves were then cuffed and taken away under tight supervision in a police cruiser, body-cam footage shows.

All $100,000 worth of handbags were recovered and returned to the store, cops said.

The failed burglars were identified as Richard Bernard Spencer, 40, of Los Angeles, and Marcellus Ronell Shelby, 30, of Hollywood, cops said.

The pair was arrested and charged on suspicion of burglary, grand theft, conspiracy, vandalism and resisting arrest. 

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