Blog

Sep 01, 2023

Mob of masked thieves clear out shelves at LA Macy's as stunned shoppers look on

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission. Flash mobs terrorizing California retailers hit a Los Angeles Macy’s store in the latest string of smash-and-grab robberies caught on film.

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

Flash mobs terrorizing California retailers hit a Los Angeles Macy’s store in the latest string of smash-and-grab robberies caught on film.

Startling video from inside the Sherman Oaks department store shows a group of masked thieves in hooded sweatshirts filling their bags with merchandise shortly after 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

Shoppers are seen standing by in shock as the thieves — described as in their early 20s — clear out shelves before running away together, dropping some of the stolen merch on the floor.

The group fled from the Westfield Fashion Square shopping center in two cars — a silver or gold Honda and a black Ford Fusion, ABC 7 reported.

The brazen daylight heist occurred the same day Southern California law enforcement agencies united to form a retail crime task force to curb such incidents.

🚓 @Macys Heist Update: A gang of 9 masked suspects hit Macy's at Sherman Oaks, LA. Stay informed on the incident via the Citizen App. #citizenapp #macys #shermanoaks #smashandgrab #streetpeopleoflosangeles pic.twitter.com/3B55Ve6BWg

The new task force is composed of the LA Police Department, the LA County Sheriff’s Department, along with the US Marshals Apprehension Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Apprehension Task Force.

The effort features 22 full-time investigators solely devoted to taking down organized retail crime in the area.

“What we’ve seen over just the past week in the City of Los Angeles and in surrounding regions is unacceptable, which is why today we are here announcing action,” Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement last week about the task force.

“These are not victimless crimes — especially in the case where Angelenos were attacked — through force or fear — as they did their jobs or ran errands.”

Thursday’s smash-and-grab came after a larger raid at a Nordstrom in Canoga Park on Aug. 12, when more than 30 masked robbers made off with over $300,000 worth of goods.

The incident also saw one of the suspects using bear spray against a security guard who responded to the theft, the LAPD said.

The retail crime task force has since arrested 11 individuals allegedly connected to the Nordstrom robbery, and four other incidents.