Police turned to the public for assistance Nov. 20 in identifying at least 17 suspects in a flash mob robbery at a shopping center in Los Angeles.
Officers responded to the 9800 block of South Alameda Street Sunday at about 5:50 p.m. to a report of a retail store robbery at a Nike store involving at least 13 male and 4 female suspects, all black, between the ages of 15 and 20, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The masked suspects allegedly stole $12,000 worth of merchandise, police said—which included clothing and boxes of shoes—that were placed in trash bags before fleeing.
According to police, one of the suspects was wearing a distinct black hoodie with the logo of a bonsai tree and the words “Ritual of the Spirit.”
Investigators described the suspects’ vehicles as a tan Infinity four-door, a gray KIA SUV, a white Honda, a KIA four-door, and a black Audi.
Anyone with information regarding the robbery was urged to contact the LAPD Organized Crime Retail Taskforce Detective Juan Campos at (213) 486-6958 or [email protected]. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
Such incidents have increased in Southern California, say authorities.
In August, a string of such robberies occurred including when at least 30 suspects “flooded” the Yves Saint Laurent store at The Americana at Brand in Glendale and stole clothing and other merchandise worth approximately $300,000.
Four days later, about 30 people entered a Nordstrom in the Westfield Topanga Shopping Center and grabbed more than $300,000 worth of merchandise.
Two other flash mobs hit Macy’s stores in Arcadia and Sherman Oaks two days apart later that month.
