Breaking News: Flash Robbery at LA Mall Leads to Six Arrests!
Six people have been arrested, and police are searching for six more suspects after a “flash rob” incident at the Westfield Topanga Mall in Canoga Park, California, last Friday.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), a group of twelve people rushed into two stores and made off with over $90,000 worth of merchandise in just a few minutes.
The robbery happened around 5:15 p.m. PST. The suspects, who were dressed in masks and hooded sweatshirts, used their numbers to overwhelm security and knock over display shelves. Police say the robbers mainly targeted designer handbags.
The LAPD’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF) is leading the investigation, but they have not disclosed which stores were affected.
Security footage shows the suspects running away, each carrying what appears to be high-end items.
The mall’s security team did not respond to requests for comments by Tuesday. The Westfield Topanga Mall houses 176 stores, including luxury brands like Gucci, Balenciaga, Christian Dior, Versace, and Neiman Marcus.
After the robbery, the LAPD’s ORCTF joined forces with local officers and mall security to start tracking the suspects. They quickly identified potential suspects and their vehicles.
About four and a half hours later, officers found one of the vehicles connected to the robbery. Five people were inside, and they were then arrested and charged with robbery.
Two of the suspects were juveniles, and the three adults were identified as Joshua Jones, 22, Amaya McDonald, 19, and Justin Jones, 18—all residents of Los Angeles.
Later that night, the Huntington Beach Police Department found another vehicle linked to the robbery.
After searching the car, officers found more stolen items. Rajene Robinson, a 26-year-old from Los Angeles, was arrested for felony possession of stolen property.
The LAPD is asking anyone with information about this incident to contact their commercial crimes division at 818-374-9437.
Tips can also be sent via email to [email protected]. If you want to stay anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
The LAPD has noticed an increase in similar flash robbery cases. Since July, at least 14 such incidents have taken place at various 7-Eleven stores in the area, usually on Friday nights.
Groups of 20 to 40 people often ride bicycles to these locations, overwhelming staff and stealing merchandise.
The rise in these types of thefts has forced many stores to step up security. Some stores now have more cameras, guards, and locked display cases and even require appointments for high-end shopping.
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The New York Police Department (NYPD) dealt with a similar situation. Thieves broke into the Chanel store on Madison Avenue in New York City, using a sledgehammer to smash a display and grab three handbags worth $10,000 each. They quickly fled in a car, and the investigation is still ongoing.