A girl aged just 14 is part of an organized gang of female looters arrested after the latest in a series of brazen daylight raids on California stores.
She and her mentors didn’t even bother to disguise themselves as they looted the Nike store in Irvine, grabbing armfuls of clothes as they strolled around before sauntering onto the street unchallenged.
The latest raid came as 12 LA counties launched a final legal challenge to the Democratic state’s new zero-bail law, which allows “presumably innocent” suspects to take to the streets immediately after their arrest.
“The elimination of cash bail for these types of offenses is really an invitation to these types of people who have the propensity to break the law and do so so brazenly,” warned Tom Saggau of the LA Police Protective League.
Security footage from Thursday’s attack shows the four, and an unknown male accomplice, making off with about $3,000 worth of clothing, including hoodies, pants, shirts and sports bras.
The thieves were hunkered down with eight of their loot after robbing the Nike store in Irvine
Police believe it is not the first time the gang has targeted the Irvine store. Other stores in Carlsbad and San Clemente also suffered $11,000 in stolen goods.
Police said the four are believed to be part of an organized retail crime ring that stole about $11,000 during a series of previous raids on Nike stores in Irvine, Carlsbad and San Clemente.
Zero bail was first introduced to combat overcrowding in the city’s jails during the pandemic but expired last summer.
LA rapper 50 Cent warned the city was “done” after announcing it would reintroduce the policy earlier this summer.
He spoke out after a judge in the Democratic-run city ruled that holding prisoners on bail when they can’t afford it was a violation of their constitutional rights.
“LA is done, look how bad it gets there. SMH (shaking head),” the hip-hop star wrote on social media.
Governor Gavin Newsom fiercely supported the move, claiming it would help “eradicate racial inequality and structural bias.”
“We will have another opportunity to make California a national leader in the unfinished fight for equality and justice,” he said while campaigning for the measure.
But it has sparked an angry response in a state where robberies rose 10 percent last year and nearly 580,000 thefts were reported to police.
None of the unmasked thieves seemed to fear being recorded on the store’s security cameras
One even paused for one last grab when she liked something before leaving the store on Interstate 405
An unidentified man was also captured on camera forcing his way out of the store in Irvine
A casual glance over the shoulder and a thief makes off with a huge pile of clothes
‘How are we going to ensure that criminals do not feel that there are no consequences for the actions they take?’ LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger demanded this week.
“Our communities have not been shy about telling us how nervous they are about this change,” LA County Sheriff Robert Luna told ABC7.
“They are concerned about the lack of consequences for those who commit crimes, and especially for those who are repeat offenders.”
A suspected shoplifter brazenly returned to the store last week where she was accused of stealing $600 worth of manicure equipment to demand that store owners return the phone she dropped.
‘The owner and shopkeeper told her that if she returned the stolen goods she could get her phone back ‘no questions asked’, security footage showed.
The suspect then angrily shoved the store owner in the face and left him stumbling into the nail supplies shelves behind him. She then went after the pregnant cashier by approaching her aggressively.
It came as dozens of Philadelphia stores were targeted in “flash mob” raids on consecutive nights, breaking in and looting thousands of dollars worth of luxury goods from retailers such as Foot Locker, Lululemon and Apple.
More than 50 people have been arrested, including Dayjia “Meatball” Blackwell, who livestreamed the robberies and encouraged others to join in.
She filmed a crowd as they looted a series of stores, before heading to a liquor store where she herself bragged about grabbing a bottle of Hennessy.
“Tell the police that if they lock me up tonight, a movie will be made!” Everyone has to eat!’ she said to the camera.
She appeared distraught as police took her mugshot, but was released on $25,000 bail on Thursday after she brazenly begged her fans to pay for a lawyer.
Flash mobs involving as many as 50 people attacking stores across the Golden State have prompted the LAPD to form a task force.
At the end of August, the task force, called the Organized Retail Crime Taskforce, said it had made 11 arrests in connection with four cases.
Earlier that month, a gang of more than 30 men made off with $300,000 worth of goods when they robbed a Nordstrom at the city’s Topanga Mall.
Videos circulating online show the thieves taking luxury goods from brands such as Yves Saint Laurent, Burberry and Bottega Veneta.
The gang also used bear spray to attack two security guards inside the store, allowing them to cause chaos.
Dayjia ‘Meatball’ Blackwell, who livestreamed a looting rampage in Philadelphia and encouraged others to join in, appeared distraught as police took her mugshot
The 14-year-old girl arrested in Irvine was seized along with Kristen Jamie Himbarger, 19, of Los Angeles, Chinese Celeste Morris, 24, of Highland, and Anaiya Syrai Cole, 19, of San Pedro.
Glendora Mayor Gary Boyer said the no-bail policy reintroduced Sunday is a “threat to public safety.”
“Once other cities in Los Angeles County become aware of this, I’m sure we will receive additional support,” he added.
“But our great hope would be to overturn the zero bail policy or at least put a pause on it so that we have the opportunity to look at it more closely and find out whether or not this is the is the right thing to do.’