Macy’s in Los Angeles robbed by gang of thieves escaping with $20,000 of perfume amid a smash-and-grab epidemic in California
Macy’s in Los Angeles robbed by gang of thieves who escaped with $20,000 worth of perfume during smash-and-grab epidemic in California
- A new group of “flash robbers” attacked a Macy’s store at the Northridge Mall on Sunday morning
- They filled garbage bags full of luxury perfumes and ran away after being chased by innocent shoppers who tried to stop them
- Los Angeles Police are searching for the suspects and were last seen driving an unlicensed black Infinity
A group of “flash rob” thieves stormed the Los Angeles Macy’s department store at Northridge Mall on Sunday morning, filling bags with $20,000 worth of perfume.
Cell phone video of the crime showed several men wearing dark hoodies and blue medical face masks loading bags with what appeared to be cologne and perfume items.
Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to the incident moments after the robbery occurred around 11:10 a.m.
The news comes at a time when the trend of ‘flash robs’ is on the rise at major retail chains in California, where groups of thieves have overwhelmed retailers and taken everything they could.
According to The Ocean County RegisterRPolice believe five to 10 male suspects were involved and fled in an unlicensed black Infinity.
Cell phone video of the crime showed several men wearing dark hoodies and blue medical face masks loading bags with what appeared to be cologne and perfume items
The ‘flash robbers’ allegedly used hammers and their bodies to break open the glass windows of the Macy’s department store
Los Angeles Police Public Information Officer Tony Im said the thieves reportedly used hammers and physical force to smash glass cases full of fragrance brands.
Due to the increase in store robberies in the state, the Los Angeles Police Department has launched a task force dedicated to preventing robberies like this one.
“The Organized Retail Crimes Task Force is a multi-agency task force that will be led by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Commercial Crimes Unit,” LAPD Assistant Chief Dominic Choi said. KNX News Radio Los Angeles.
This new report is just one example of “flash mob” robberies that have become popular since the zero-money bail policy came back into play in Los Angeles.
The city rrecently reinstated policy means that people arrested and charged with a crime may be released from custody without having to post bail in advance for certain categories of offences.
Just last week, another Macy’s store in California was looted by four robbers at the Brea mall on September 5.
After one of the suspects was arrested, the other three went on a manic flight when they stopped near an elementary school, came across a dentist’s office and tried to get away in a ride-sharing car before being arrested.
A Nordstrom Rack and another Macy’s store were also targeted by groups of thieves who made off with thousands of dollars worth of designer handbags.
As the robbers in this most recent Macy’s heist tried to get away with black and white trash bags full of luxury perfumes, other customers tried to chase them down
A group of “flash rob” thieves stormed the Los Angeles Macy’s department store at Northridge Mall on Sunday morning, filling bags with $20,000 worth of perfume.
The city’s zero bail policy means people arrested and charged with certain crimes may be released without having to post bail in advance
This Macy’s in LA’s Northridge Mall isn’t the first Macy’s in the city to be targeted by robbers. The Santa Anita Mall store was also robbed of perfume in August
Six suspects swarmed the Nordstrom Rack in Riverside on August 14 and loaded their arms with wallets before running over. This store was hit before the attack on July 10.
On August 22, suspects threw bottles of perfume into trash bags at the Macy’s store at Santa Anita Mall.
A Nike store in LA was also attacked by six thieves on August 13 in a brazen robbery at the East Los Angeles location. They were all caught red-handed with burglary tools and $30,000 worth of merchandise.
As the robbers in this most recent Macy’s heist tried to get away with black and white garbage bags full of luxury perfume, other customers tried to chase them down.
Police last saw the suspects as they drove away and are still looking for them.
Los Angeles Mayor Bass has reported that 11 suspects have been arrested so far after launching the multi-agency task force. They can be jailed for up to six months, but rarely will the police press charges.
At a press conference announcing the official task force, Mayor Bass said, “These are not victimless crimes. No Angeleno should feel like it is not safe to go shopping in Los Angeles.”