Thieves Storm Store, Flee with Loot as LAPD Investigates Organized Retail Theft Surge
By Dolores Quintana
A Gucci storefront located within the Westfield Century City Mall in Los Angeles fell victim to a smash-and-grab robbery orchestrated by a group of nine men on July 31. The incident occurred around 3:10 p.m. when the individuals stormed into Bloomingdale’s and swiftly fled with their arms laden with stolen merchandise. A video capturing the event was shared on Twitter, depicting the thieves fleeing the department store as a bystander recorded the unfolding scene. A Gucci employee was spotted notifying the police while a security guard observed the situation.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) acknowledged the occurrence of the robbery but has yet to provide details concerning the estimated value of the stolen items. It remains unclear whether the robbers were armed during the incident and if any injuries were sustained. An LAPD spokeswoman informed the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday that while the video depicts nine men involved, the exact number of participants in the group remains undisclosed.
The police have refrained from disclosing any information regarding potential arrests and have not revealed the specific store that was targeted. However, they did confirm that the thieves fled the scene in a red Kia and a white SUV. In response, the LAPD issued a press release discussing their recently held summit on organized retail theft, which took place on July 12. The department highlighted that retail theft in Los Angeles has surged by 14.2 percent in 2023, compared to figures from the previous year.
Over 200 retailers convened at the summit, where speakers including LAPD Chief Michel Moore, City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, and representatives from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office addressed themes of collaboration between law enforcement and retail security, asset protection, and enforcement operations.
Dan Kennedy, the Senior Vice President of US Security Operations at Westfield, refrained from discussing specific security protocols but expressed concern over the growing trend of organized retail crime. He emphasized Westfield’s commitment to coordinating security training and readiness with local law enforcement, adapting strategies based on the unique requirements of each shopping center.
Another smash-and-grab robbery took place at another Westfield Mall, this time at the Westfield Topanga Mall on August 14. This time, The store targeted was Nordstrom, and 30 people were involved. The items stolen in the robbery were valued at $300,000. A security guard was sprayed with bear spray.
