Brazen moment five hooded thieves casually stroll into Chanel, set off the fire extinguisher then steal $250,000 worth of bags during audacious smash-and-grab robbery

This is the moment five hooded thieves stole $250,000 worth of bags from a Chanel store in crime-ridden Washington DC.

Video shows the suspects exiting a white vehicle early Sunday evening before storming into the Northwest Town Center store, taking merchandise and fleeing.

One suspect was seen grabbing several handbags, while another blew a fire extinguisher through the store.

A special police officer assigned to protect the premises was struck by the contents of the fire extinguisher. During the robbery, a security guard fired one shot, but no one was hit.

Police have not yet made any arrests and have launched an appeal to identify the suspects and the vehicle in the video.

One of the thieves lit a fire extinguisher in an apparent attempt to create a distraction during the robbery. A special police officer assigned to protect the premises was struck by the contents of the fire extinguisher

Surveillance footage from inside the store shows one of the robbery suspects wearing a hooded sweatshirt and what appeared to be rubber gloves.

Surveillance footage from inside the store shows a group wearing hooded sweatshirts and rubber gloves entering the Chanel store on I Street NW on Sunday around 5:30 p.m.

One of the thieves lit a fire extinguisher in an apparent attempt to create a distraction.

A police spokesperson said this NBCWashington: 'One of the suspects fired a fire extinguisher several times, causing its contents to hit a Special Police officer, while the other suspects took merchandise from the store.'

As the thieves left the store, an armed guard opened fire, but no one was shot.

The store was robbed earlier in February, with a flash mob also setting off a fire extinguisher to cause a distraction.

Police are offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in Sunday's case. Tips can be reported at (202) 727-9099.

Video shows the suspects exiting a white vehicle before rushing into the North West town center store. Pictured above is the white sedan the suspects are believed to have been traveling in

The suspects casually walked from their car to the Chanel store before committing the robbery

The suspects are seen fleeing the store after stealing $250,000 worth of merchandise

It comes after D.C. police issued a warning earlier this month about armed robbers targeting and stealing winter coats worth thousands of dollars in broad daylight.

In the span of 48 hours, several residents were robbed of their Canada Goose and Moncler jackets at gunpoint. Canada Goose jackets and parkas have been known to cost over $1,000, with the most expensive women's parka costing $1,850.

Police said three to four masked thieves dressed in dark clothing approached the victims and demanded their jackets and other items before leaving with them in a car.

In light of these thefts, DC police have advised residents to purchase AirTags so they don't lose their jackets forever.

Similarly, images and videos have emerged of pharmacies sitting empty due to thefts and of adults using children to steal items.

At a CVS in DC, the entire shelves have been emptied by gangs of children who attack the store every day.

A lone security guard at the Columbia Heights store is no match for the more than fifty teenagers who routinely empty the store before and after school.

The pharmacy chain is closing 900 stores in the US due to a crime wave that is costing the industry $112 billion a year, according to the National Retail Federation.

In Georgetown, a woman said she was walking home when a group of girls noticed she was wearing a Canada Goose jacket and tried to steal the expensive item.

There have been incidents across Northwest DC involving thieves stealing Canada Goose jackets

Desolate shelves greet visitors to DC's CVS, which is routinely cleared out by shoplifting kids on their way to or from school

A homeowner in Washington, D.C., was shocked to see her Halloween decorations stolen from her porch by young children supervised by two adults

While several major chains across the country have closed stores due to shoplifters, the situation in DC appears to be even worse after videos of children and adults stealing Halloween decorations went viral.

The incident was captured on a Ring doorbell camera and shows the children walking to the building in the Hillcrest neighborhood on October 12 around 8:30 p.m.

One adult was apparently in charge of them when two baskets filled with Halloween-themed items were stolen.

A second adult was seen on the sidewalk outside the home and watched while the theft occurred.

The homeowner, named only as Shelly, was disgusted by the incident and said she was concerned about the behavior of the young children.