MIAMI -- Any retailer can tell you that business is slow these days. The holiday shopping was a bust. The state of the economy doesn't seem to be getting any better. That means a big sale is a hot commodity.

So, when a couple walked into a high-end clothing store in the Design District and began pulling thousands of dollars' worth of items off the racks, the owner was thrilled.

"She was trying on a bunch of stuff -- 'I'll take this. I'll take this. I'll take this.' And he kept saying, 'We got to go. I'm hungry,'” said the store owner, who wishes to remain anonymous.

She said they were dressed in very expensive clothing, "dripping in diamonds, solid gold watch."

The retailer said the couple brought $20,000 worth of clothes to the counter to buy and then their credit card came back as declined. Because it was such a big sale and because there aren't many big sales these days, the retailer took the gamble.

"I made a poor judgment call. I got an approval code over the phone. I forced the sale," the owner said.

She said police later told her the couple is a professional scam artist team. She said they've stolen thousands from three other stores in the Design District and in South Beach.

Police said it is important for retailers not to force sales. If a credit card comes back declined, call the bank yourself. If you can't figure out the problem, it's better to be safe than sorry.