Imagine running from police through a shopping center… then trying to explain it away with, “I have beaucoup money.” That was basically the defense. Police in Florida were already investigating the reported theft of thousands of dollars in designer merchandise when officers spotted two women inside Forever 21 who matched what they were looking for. When officers moved in, both women took off. Through the store. Out into the promenade. Past repeated commands to stop. Officers eventually caught up with them near Saks Fifth Avenue and detained them. That’s when one woman repeatedly insisted she hadn’t done anything wrong, said she had plenty of money in her purse, and claimed she only ran because the other woman suddenly handed her merchandise and took off. She also suggested the whole thing somehow traced back to an earlier incident where she had made a rude gesture at an Old Navy employee. Because apparently that was going to clear everything up. Investigators then started sorting through the recovered merchandise and connected items to multiple stores around the shopping center, including Prada, Steve Madden, Old Navy and Forever 21. Authorities also discovered outstanding warrant and probation issues while checking their information. Both women were ultimately booked on theft-related charges. Having money in your purse may be an interesting conversation starter. It is considerably less useful after sprinting away from the police with merchandise from multiple stores.