Three suspects were arrested on suspicion of a large-scale robbery in the famous The Grove shopping mall in Los Angeles. They were detained by the police today. The other suspects are still at large. This is the latest in a series of flash mob robberies targeting high-end stores in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Police said they believed the suspect was one of at least 20 people who allegedly robbed a Nordstrom store in a popular retail and entertainment center in Fairfax before 11pm on Monday night.
The police said that Grove’s robbers smashed a window in a department store with a sledgehammer and various tools, and reportedly stole several pieces of men's clothing. At least four cars drove away from Nordstrom, and the patrol car of the Los Angeles Police Department responded to the burglary call.
Related stories TV presenter/actor Terence J escaped from chasing home and attempted robbery
Local CBSLA and KCAL reporter Desmond Shaw posted the damaged aerial photos on Twitter.
More high-end robbery, this time at Nordstrom in Grove, Mid City. Smashed and grabbed one of the front windows. It was not clear what was stolen, but the scooter was scattered around the window. The Los Angeles Police Department hunted down some people who fled until they came out and ran to South Los Angeles. @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/mnFdpimKH2
— Desmond Shaw (@RoadSageLA) November 23, 2021
NBCLA reporter Robert Kovacik posted a close-up video of the damage, with a sledgehammer nearby.
#BREAKING #TheGrove: Smash and catch @TheGroveLA @Nordstrom after 10:30pm. pic.twitter.com/nJ0IBGGkYk
— Robert Kovacik (@RobertNBCLA) November 23, 2021
At about 11:06 pm, a group of suspects led the police in a highway chase and a hunt on foot in South Los Angeles, using the Santa Monica (10) highway and the harbor (110) highway as their escape route, and then on Manchester Avenue Leaving 110 Monday, Los Angeles Police Department officer Drake Madison (Drake Madison) said.
According to reports, 20 suspects tried to break into Nordstrom in The Grove. @LAPDWilshire pursue pic.twitter.com/1EzJ21nUrc
— Christina Heller (@CHellerTVNews), November 23, 2021
The police then established a cordon in the area near Hoover Street and Vermont Avenue and began hunting for the suspect on foot. The police found several pieces of clothing, a cash register and gloves from a Nissan SUV, which they believed to be the suspect’s vehicle.
Madison said that it is not yet clear whether the arrested suspect was involved in the police hunt.
Barriers were installed outside the Grove where the robbery took place today. According to images taken by the local news media, Nordstrom's broken windows were sealed.
#BREAKINGNOW@ABC7: After people robbed Nordstrom stores and smashed windows, The Grove had barbed wire and barricades. The police pursued the suspect. @abc7jade will broadcast live this morning to provide the latest news about this ongoing crime frenzy. #thegrove #Nordstrom pic.twitter.com/QOFU8bHZ5H
-Brandi Hitt (@ABC7Brandi) November 23, 2021
A similar large-scale robbery occurred in a Nordstrom store in the San Francisco area on Saturday, allegedly involving 80 people. In addition, a series of incidents took place in San Francisco's Union Square on Friday night. San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said via CNN that the affected businesses include a Louis Vuitton store, a Burberry store, a jewelry store, a Bloomingdale's, a Walgreens, a cannabis dispensary and an optical shop.
Also early on Sunday morning, the windows of Louis Vuitton and Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills were smashed. According to the Times, “seeing multiple suspects riding in several vehicles, they went down to the scene and Use a sledgehammer to try to break the front window.'” According to the police, the thief did not enter the store and did not take anything.
The Los Angeles Police Department officer Drake Madison said that at about 9:45 on Monday night, six suspects entered a CVS pharmacy on the 5800 block of Vermont Avenue in South Los Angeles, stole three cash registers and took them away. Approximately US$8,500 in cash. It is unclear whether the suspects later targeted Grove.
When asked about these matters on Monday, California Governor Gavin Newsom said: "These people need to be held accountable. We need to smash these criminal gangs and arrest these criminal gangs."
Later that day, the governor instructed the California Highway Patrol to “increase their presence near major retail locations” and announced what he called “exponential growth” in the state budget for 2022-2023 to combat retail theft.
"This year, my business was split three times," said Newsom, who co-owns a Napa Valley winery. "I don't have any sympathy or sympathy for people smashing, looting, stealing things, causing destruction and terror on our streets. There is no. Period. Full stop," he said. "We want true accountability. We want people to be prosecuted, and we want people to feel safe this holiday season."
Finally, the Governor also observed, “These people are stealing a sense of place.” This statement is especially true of Grove's carefully planned and usually very safe environment.
The Fairfax District Mall is certainly a popular venue for industry screenings and events. Apple's CEO and Tim Cook and the actors from Tedrasso just opened a new Apple store there last week.
The City News Agency contributed to this report.
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