Thieves steal $300K worth of merchandise from Yves Saint Laurent store at the Americana in Glendale
GLENDALE, Calif. (KABC) -- A group of thieves were captured on video fleeing a high-end clothing store at the Americana at Brand in Glendale after stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in merchandise.
The theft happened at the shopping center's Yves Saint Laurent store Tuesday around 5 p.m.
Glendale police said about $300,000 worth of merchandise was stolen in what was described as a "flash mob" burglary involving 30-40 people. The suspects escaped in about 20 separate vehicles, according to police.
There were no injuries or weapons used.
Footage of the brazen robbery has gone viral on social media and is now the subject of a police investigation by Glendale police.
Southern California has seen plenty of similar incidents caught on camera. A report from the National Retail Federation last year said Los Angeles was the metro area most affected by retail theft in the country.
Back in June, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a partnership between the state's Department of Justice and more than a dozen retailers and online marketplaces like Target and Amazon.
The goal is to crack down on retail crime. As part of the partnership, the retailers signed a pledge to increase information sharing between them and law enforcement.
Brick-and-mortar sellers also have to maintain records of thefts and police reports. An online portal was also created through the DOJ's website where people can submit complaint or tips.
