Police have announced the first arrest in the recent “flash mob” robbery at a Los Angeles-area mall where 30 thieves made off with $400,000 worth of YSL merchandise.
Ivan Isaac Ramirez, 23, was detained Thursday for his alleged involvement in the mass robbery of a YSL store in Brand’s Glendale Americana.
Another suspect, Brianna Jimenez, 21, is still at large and is currently wanted by police. Her grinning photo was released by police this weekend.
No names of other suspects have been released or any arrests made.
Videos posted online from the Aug. 8 robbery showed people in dark clothing and masks running into the store and then quickly running back out.
The YSL incident is the latest in a series of recent ‘flash mob’ style robberies where large groups of employees overwhelm and loot as much as possible before fleeing.
Ivan Isaac Ramirez (pictured) was detained Thursday for his alleged involvement in the mass robbery of a YSL store in the Glendale Americana in Brand
Suspect Brianna Jimenez (pictured) is still at large and is currently wanted by the police. Her photo was released by police last weekend
According to police, Ramirez was arrested and booked on several charges, including organized shoplifting, burglary, grand larceny and conspiracy.
During the shocking robbery, the thieves used no weapons and took off in hundreds of thousands from Yves Saint Laurent in less than a minute.
In a statement following Ramirez’s arrest, Glendale Police Chief Manuel Cid said crimes like this are not acceptable in his city.
“I assure all members of the Glendale community and the wider Los Angeles area that these brutal robberies and burglaries will not be tolerated,” Cid said.
“This is the first arrest in connection with this crime and more arrests will follow,” the police chief continued.
Footage from the store robbery showed a group of hooded and masked thieves running out of the store with arms full of merchandise.
They sprinted down a walkway to the curb, where police said about 20 cars were waiting for them, and sped off in different directions.
A suspect appeared to have been stopped as he attempted to flee by an Amazon delivery man, who struggled with the thief.
Videos posted online showed a group of thieves wearing dark clothing and masks storming into the Yves Saint Laurent store at the Americana at Brand shortly before 5 p.m. on Aug. 8.
Moments later, the thieves ran out again with arms full of merchandise
The group sprinted down a busy walkway carrying their stolen items
The brazen robbery took place at the posh Americana at Brand mall in Glendale
But someone could be heard off-screen telling the delivery man to just let him go, saying it was ‘not worth it’ to be hit by a fleeing vehicle.
This was later told by an employee FOS 11 that “all merchandise was taken in less than a minute.”
Speaking of the incident KTLA, Glendale Police Sgt. Victor Jackson said there was a “brief chase” for the suspects, but police were unable to locate any of them.
Describing the robbery as a ‘flash mob’, he explained: ‘In these circumstances, they overwhelm the store’s staff. They all come in at once.
“The staff don’t know how to react, they’re trying to figure out what’s going on.”
Jackson added that at least 30 to 40 people must be involved in the plan, noting that some entered the store to get the items and others waited in the cars.
Robberies like this are all too common in California, residents say.
In another recent incident, a group of about 20 to 50 suspects struck a Nordstrom northwest of La La Land and swarmed the site.
Footage shot at the store shows men in dark hoodies and face masks looting the department store in Westfield Topanga Mall, even resorting to attacking security guards with bear spray.
A shocking video has captured a scene of mafia-style mayhem, with a robbery involving up to 50 looters at a Los Angeles mall
Videos quickly circulated on social media showing the mob smashing display cases and stealing high-end designer accessories, some of which are still attached with electronic security tags.
One of the thieves was even seen pulling a large metal display shelf behind him as he fled, with a luxury leather bag still attached with a security tag.
The group sprinted to the door in an effort to exit the store quickly and secure as much merchandise as possible.
The thieves made off with thousands of dollars worth of luxury handbags and designer clothes, an LAPD spokesman told NBC News.