Police believe thieves used a forklift in an elaborate heist in which an up-market department store suffered its first shoplifting case a week before it opened its doors.

Slate floor tiles worth GBP9900 (USD15,200) were stolen between August 1 and August 6 from the construction site of a Harvey Nichols store, which opens today.

The Scottish Daily Record said police believe the thieves used a forklift or a van to steal the 300 tiles, each worth GBP33 (USD50.66). The tiles weighed more than one tonne.