The smash-and-grab robberies at stores such as YSL and Louis Vuitton looked chaotic, but police said the heists were part of a carefully planned scheme.According to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, the individuals hit multiple luxury retail stores between May 2023 and August 2023, including Yves Saint Laurent (YSL), Nordstrom, and Louis Vuitton.
“This was not a one-off shoplifting offense, it was a dangerous, coordinated scheme. These crimes hurt our businesses and pose a serious threat to our communities,” Bonta said in a statement. “I am thankful to our local law enforcement partners and Mayor Bass for their collaboration in this battle against organized retail crime. We will not give up until we put a stop to this criminal activity all together.”
Magnolia Park, a high-end boutique, Gucci and Burberry were also targeted during the crime spree.
A video obtained by USA TODAY shows a masked “flash mob” dressed in all-black dart out of YSL with unpaid items. Last year, the state announced its move to invest and award more than $267 million in law enforcement agencies to tackle organized retail crime.
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