A young fashion model was taken into custody and formally charged this week in connection with an audacious theft at a prestigious Manhattan boutique that resulted in the loss of about $1 million in designer clothing and accessories. Police say the rapid, meticulously planned break-in unfolded in under five minutes last December and has since drawn national attention.
🕵️♂️ Model and Theft Details
Authorities allege the 21-year-old suspect, identified as Abdallah Diaby, played a central role in a coordinated operation that targeted an upscale luxury resale shop in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood. According to police reports, Diaby and three accomplices entered the store in the early morning hours of December 1, 2025, dressed to resemble construction workers before breaking in and swiftly seizing numerous premium designer items including jackets, handbags and belts.
Surveillance footage — cited by law enforcement — shows the alleged thieves moving merchandise out of the boutique by lowering it from a balcony to accomplices waiting below before exiting the scene in a vehicle.
⚖️ Arrest, Charges and Court Proceedings
Police apprehended Diaby in February 2026. He was arraigned on charges including grand larceny, burglary, and criminal possession of stolen property but was released without bail under supervision, in line with current state law for non-violent offenses. Diaby has entered a plea of not guilty and is scheduled to return to court for further proceedings in March.
