Los Angeles 'Tasteful Burglar' Accused of Stealing High-End Vintage Furniture and Designer Items
In a series of audacious crimes, a thief labeled the 'most tasteful burglar' in Los Angeles has been implicated in the theft of exorbitantly expensive vintage furniture from upscale stores and lavish designer goods from social media influencers. Zack Vincler, a 36-year-old individual, has already been convicted of burglary and identity theft for a string of robberies, but numerous business owners and TikTok personalities assert he is responsible for dozens of additional thefts.
Targeting High-End Vintage Furniture Stores
Paul Bearman, proprietor of the high-end vintage furniture store Merit, revealed to NBC News that he believes Vincler has been specifically targeting his business for several years. In November 2022, Bearman recounted receiving a fraudulent payment for a 50-year-old Ligne Roset Togo sofa valued at $7,800, only discovering the scam after shippers had collected the item.
'I have never experienced credit card fraud in a decade of operating my business,' Bearman told the outlet. 'There was something particularly irregular about this situation.' Shortly thereafter, Bearman connected with Amanda Hallberg, founder of the furniture restoration company Modern Conscience, who reported being swindled out of two iconic Eames chairs—one from the 1960s worth $2,300 and another from the 1950s priced at $684.
Hallberg managed to trace the chairs to Vincler's address in Los Angeles and created a dedicated webpage on her site titled 'Stolen by Zack Vincler.' The two business owners exchanged information, and when Bearman received another order for a Togo sofa, he decided to confront Vincler directly.
'I opened the door and gently pushed him aside with my arm,' Bearman described to NBC. 'I pulled out my phone and began recording.' However, when police arrived on the scene, Bearman was instructed to leave, and Vincler was not arrested at that time.
Escalating Thefts and Arrests
In April 2023, a $58,000 couch was stolen from Bearman's store. Surveillance footage captured the massive 21-piece Mah Jong sofa by Roche Bobois being removed from Merit. Merely eight days later, Bearman reported a second theft at his establishment. This incident involved a 1920s-era Goyard trunk valued at $32,000, a Gucci snakeskin desk set worth $4,800, and a cast aluminum chair by Pierre Guariche priced at $3,500.
Vincler was subsequently arrested and charged with three counts of commercial burglary. Prosecutors indicated that on the same day he stole the $58,000 couch, he also robbed a furniture store in Beverly Hills. He was released on a $60,000 bond on May 4, 2023, but just one month later, influencer Emily Ober reported a home burglary where a set of rare Pierre Paulin Elysee floor lamps, valued at $10,000 each, along with five designer chairs, were taken.
Ober shared surveillance footage with the Los Angeles Police Department, which ultimately reached the desk of the detective previously investigating Vincler, according to NBC News. Vincler was arrested again and faced additional felony charges. After spending eight months in custody, he accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to time served and probation on March 14, 2024.
Influencers Become Victims
Merely a few months later, in June 2024, TikTok star Victoria Paris had two Rabanne bags, two Miu Miu bags, Hermes scarves, a Louis Vuitton duffel bag, and several trays of jewelry—totaling $15,000 in goods—stolen from her residence. Paris posted about the distressing experience online and was contacted by individuals who suspect Vincler was the perpetrator.
'The pattern definitely involves people with impeccable taste,' Paris told NBC News. 'I admired everyone he was burglarizing. It was certainly a specific vibe.' She received tips from multiple employees at a popular LA vintage store called Wasteland, indicating her items had been sold there, enabling her to recover her black Rabanne bag.
While Vincler has not been formally linked to Paris' robbery by law enforcement, he missed a probation hearing in December 2024, prompting a judge to issue a bench warrant for his arrest. His attorney, Arnold Reed II, informed NBC News that he has had no contact with his client since Vincler was released on probation.
'I have not spoken to him since,' Reed stated, 'which, fingers crossed, is a very positive development.' The Daily Mail has reached out to the Los Angeles Police Department and Vincler's legal representative for further comment on these ongoing allegations.
