Saturday afternoon, a “gang” of thieves seized more than $300,000 worth of merchandise from the Westfield Topanga Shopping Center in Los Angeles, according to police. Monday, Los Angeles police reported that more than 30 individuals simultaneously entered a Nordstrom store and stole merchandise from displays near the entrance shortly after 4 p.m. before fleeing. Someone doused bear spray on the face and body of the security officer at the store’s entrance, according to police.
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Black-Clad Individuals Ransack Store in Police Video
In a video posted by police, individuals dressed entirely in black could be seen ransacking the store while carrying duffel bags, purses, and other items past the shattered glass on the floor. “The suspects fled with luxury handbags, clothing, and other easily resalable items while wearing ski masks,” police said. Officer Rosario Cervantes of the Los Angeles Police Department stated that neither suspects nor arrests have been made.
The crime has diminished the community’s sense of safety, authorities said on Twitter on Sunday. The LAPD will make every effort to apprehend the perpetrators and pursue criminal prosecution, the department said. The incident is “absolutely unacceptable,” according to a written statement from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
“Those responsible for these and similar crimes in neighboring regions must be held accountable,” said Bass. In addition to identifying those responsible for this incident, the Los Angeles Police Department will continue its efforts to prevent future assaults on retailers. A similar incident occurred on Tuesday in nearby Glendale, where criminals allegedly seized $300,000 worth of property from a Yves Saint Laurent store in a “brazen, flash mob burglary.”
“These ‘flash mob’ robberies involve a large, coordinated group of individuals racing into the store simultaneously, overwhelming the staff, and seizing control. “The suspects steal as much merchandise as they can before fleeing in multiple vehicles,” according to the Glendale police.
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Source: CNN
