A gang of masked thieves staged a cinematic robbery at a Martin County, Florida, shopping mall by drilling into the concrete roof of a Champs Sporting Goods store and stealing between 400 and 500 pairs of athletic shoes, according to the Martin County Sheriff's Office.

The unusual incident occurred between midnight and 8 am Tuesday at the Treasure Coast Mall in Jensen Beach, where the criminals managed to enter the store's rear warehouse without setting off the alarms.

Theft with pinpoint precision

Deputies said the merchandise — Nike and New Balance sneakers — was carefully bagged, tagged, thrown from the roof, and loaded into a getaway vehicle.

“They're not exactly the Crown Jewels, but it's clear these thieves put the same amount of time and effort into their crime,” the sheriff's office said in a social media post.

The value of what was stolen is estimated to be between $40,000 and $50,000, while repairing the roof will cost an additional $10,000. Some of the merchandise was hastily abandoned at the scene, suggesting the suspects had to flee before completing the load.

“Like a scene from Mission: Impossible”

During a press conference, Sheriff John Budensiek called the robbery an “exceptional case.”

“Yesterday we discovered a robbery that looks like something out of Mission: Impossible. These criminals worked for hours, with power tools—probably a grinder or a saw—without anyone noticing them,” he said.

The official indicated that those responsible could be part of a network of itinerant criminals that operates in different counties in Florida and other parts of the country.

Authorities are analyzing security cameras at the mall and surrounding areas to try to identify the group. So far, no arrests have been made.

“These were organized criminals who planned every step,” Budensiek added. "They didn't wing it; they knew exactly what they were doing.”

The Martin County Sheriff's Office asked anyone with information about the case to call 772-220-7060.