Last week, three men were arrested after stealing near $2,000 in luxury perfumes, or perfume related products, from an Ulta Beauty Store. Deputies chased the men down eventually nabbing them on a freeway. The deputies humorously noted a strong smell of perfume creeping out of the vehicle.

While this doesn't sound like the heist of the century (it is not), it's part of a growing trend of luxury fragrance heists and theft that seems to have no end. 

Here's some real surveillance footage of thieves targeting perfumes. This clip from Miami shows just how brazen these heists can be.

 

Incredible to say the least.

Why Perfume Thefts Are on the Rise

At first glance, stealing perfume might sound odd — it’s not cash, jewelry, or electronics. But in reality, luxury fragrances check every box for professional thieves.

• High Value, Small Size
  A single bottle of designer perfume can retail for hundreds of dollars, yet it’s small enough to slip into a bag or box. That makes it both lucrative and portable.

• Easy to Resell
  Unlike electronics, perfumes don’t require activation or serial numbers. They can be sold quickly online, in flea markets, or even through informal resale networks with little risk of being traced.

• Constant Demand
  Perfume is a luxury item that people always want. While not everyone is buying jewelry or designer handbags, fragrances remain an accessible form of luxury — making them easy to move on the black market.

• Organized Crime Links
  In some cases, perfume thefts aren’t just shoplifters acting alone. Authorities have tied larger hauls to organized theft rings, where stolen fragrances are transported across state lines or overseas.

The combination of glamour, portability, and profit explains why fragrance — of all things — has become a surprising target. And as the headlines keep showing us, thieves aren’t slowing down anytime soon.

Here are 5 Notorious Perfume Heists

Folks, we are no longer talking petty theft. 

$230K Perry Ellis Load — Miami, 2016

In April 2016, more than $230,000 worth of Perry Ellis perfume—weighing over 19,000 pounds—was stolen from a GPS-monitored, steel-sealed tractor-trailer in Hialeah. A jury found the 69-year-old mastermind, Eligio Bacallao, guilty of cargo theft and conspiracy.

$1.3M Warehouse Heist — New Jersey to Florida

Five men transported $1.3 million worth of stolen fragrance—filling two tractor-trailers—from a New Jersey warehouse to Florida. Their operation ended in federal convictions for interstate theft and conspiracy.

$500K+ FedEx Truck Robbery — Edison, NJ, 2024

An armed robbery targeted a FedEx driver loading perfume in an industrial park on September 5, 2023. The thieves, including an ex-employee, made off with over $500,000 worth of luxury colognes, including brands like Creed.

$14K Chanel Raid — Tulsa, OK, 2022

A coordinated theft at an Ulta Beauty in Tulsa resulted in the theft of 270 Chanel perfume items valued at $14,000. GPS trackers embedded in merchandise helped police quickly capture the three women and their getaway driver.

$30K Luxury Parisian Perfumes — Townsville, Australia, 2025

In May 2025, a break-in at Parfumerie Enchanté in Townsville saw nearly $30,000 stolen in exclusive French perfumes—including Parfums de Marly, Initio, Montale, Mancera, and Xerjoff. The robbery was chillingly premeditated, with the suspect casing the store days before.

How Perfume Theft Affects the Market

So what happens when millions of dollars in luxury fragrance goes missing? It’s not just a quirky headline — theft ripples through the entire industry.

• Retailers Tighten Security
  Stores like Ulta, Sephora, and department chains have already stepped up with locked displays, GPS-tagged merchandise, and extra staff training. For shoppers, that can mean less “grab and spray” freedom when browsing.

• Prices Feel the Pressure
  While it’s difficult to link theft directly to higher retail prices, shrinkage (the industry term for stolen inventory) always has to be accounted for. In some cases, that burden gets passed along to consumers.

• Gray Market Growth
  Stolen fragrances often end up in secondary markets — online auctions, street vendors, or unverified sellers. This creates confusion for consumers, risks of counterfeit purchases, and undermines trust in legitimate retailers.

• Brand Reputation
  For luxury houses, consistent theft can dilute the exclusivity of a product. If a fragrance is flooding resale markets, it no longer feels as rare or prestigious.

In short, while a $14,000 Chanel grab in Tulsa or a $1.3M warehouse haul may sound like isolated incidents, they add up. Over time, they push brands and retailers to change how they sell perfume — and how we shop for it.

But not to worry, there's always our vast selection of perfume samples that remain untouched by luxury fragrance heist teams. Yes, we just plugged ourselves in the most awkward way imaginable - but, no shame.