MOSCOW, November 1 (RIA Novosti) - Police are searching for thieves who have stolen 50 mink coats worth 1.5 million rubles ($52,000) from a private firm's showroom in northern Moscow, a police spokesman said on Sunday.

Two unidentified men entered the showroom on Saturday evening, locked up the security guard in a backroom and made off with 50 mink coats, the spokesman said.

An investigation into the incident has been launched, the spokesman said.

In January 2009, thieves stole 30 mink coats worth 2.5 million rubles ($86000) from a shop in southeast Moscow.

In November 2008, a group of armed men forced their way into a fur exhibition in southern Moscow and stole 75 fur coats worth 930,000 rubles ($32,000)