LAVAL, Que. -- Police say thieves who broke into a Quebec department store early this morning accidentally lost hundreds of thousands in stolen goods as they fled.

Laval police received a call at around 3:30 a.m. about a break-in and robbery at a Hudson's Bay store in a shopping centre just north of Montreal.

Lt. Genevieve Villemure says officers who responded found at least 15 suitcases containing perfumes, jewelry and beauty products in the store's parking lot.

She says it appears the thieves didn't properly close the back panel of the cube truck in which they made their escape.

No arrests have been made but Villemure says police have identified several potential suspects.