LOS ANGELES — Armed with bear spray, a bunch of up to 50 people swarmed a Los Angeles mall Saturday and made away with round $100,000 worth of luxury items, officers mentioned.
Thirty to 50 people descended on the Nordstrom retailer on the Westfield Topanga Mall in Woodland Hills, utilizing the bear spray to neutralize safety guards as they made off with 1000’s of {dollars}’ worth of luxury purses and high-end clothes, a police spokesman mentioned.
The decision of “quite a few individuals shoplifting” got here shortly after 4 p.m., the LAPD mentioned. Police estimated the loss at $60,000 to $100,000.
“Topanga Division officers have been on the scene rapidly and have a number of investigative leads,” the LAPD mentioned in a press release.
There was no quick phrase of arrests, and the robbers fled in a BMW and different automobiles.
In video circulating on social media, people carrying hoods and masks that coated their faces tear down cabinets and run out of the shop carrying luxury items.
The aftermath reveals damaged glass and cabinets on the bottom.
The LAPD confirmed that bear spray was used neutralize two safety guards. There was no quick phrase on their situation.
Mayor Karen Bass referred to as the theft “completely unacceptable.”
“Those that dedicated these acts and acts prefer it in neighboring areas should be held accountable,” she mentioned in a press release Saturday. “The Los Angeles Police Division will proceed to work to not solely discover these accountable for this incident however to stop these assaults on retailers from occurring sooner or later.”
On Tuesday, a really related mob-style theft passed off at an Yves Saint Laurent retailer on the Americana at Model in close by Glendale, NBC Los Angeles reported.
The loss was estimated at $300,000, the station reported.
Andrew Blankstein is an investigative reporter for NBC Information. He covers the Western U.S., specializing in crime, courts and homeland safety.
