Thieves target luxury Melbourne boutiques

Thieves using sledgehammers have broken through the front windows of two luxury Melbourne boutiques to steal handbags.

Prada and Gucci on Collins Street in Melbourne's CBD were targeted by the four thieves, who used metal bars and sledgehammers to smash their way into the stores early on Tuesday, police say.

A number of expensive handbags are believed to have been stolen from both stores before the thieves drove off in a dark coloured hatchback.