By Hunter Lee | [email protected] |
A Canoga Park mall was the scene of a flash mob-style robbery Wednesday night, similar to one pulled off at the Grove earlier this week.
Around 7 p.m., three to five suspects entered a Nordstrom in the Westfield Topanga mall and stole nearly $25,000 worth of designer bags, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The suspects entered the store, which was open at the time, and sprayed a security guard with a chemical substance before fleeing the scene in a green Ford mustang.
The security guard was treated and released at the scene by the Los Angeles Fire Department, Deputy Police Chief Alan Hamilton said in an interview with RMG News.
It was unclear at the time if the suspects were armed with more than the chemical spray, Hamilton said.
Police departments across robbery have been increasing their presence around major shopping malls and retail outlets after a flash mob robbery at the Nordstrom at the Grove Monday night.
On Saturday, Luis Vuitton and Saks Fifth Avenue stores in the Rodeo Drive area in Beverly Hills were targeted by a group of burglars, prompting the city to hire private security firms to patrol the area.
Flash mob robberies also have broken out in San Francisco’s Union Square and elsewhere in the Bay area. In the East Bay community of Walnut Creek, a Nordstrom store was the site of a coordinated theft that authorities believe was committed by up to 80 people.
“We’ve deployed extra officers here,” Hamilton said. “It just so happens that this was one part of the mall where they could get in and get out even with our officers deployed here.”
Police were continuing to search for the suspects. Anyone with information should contact 1-877-ASK-LAPD, or 877-275-5273.
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