A Los Angeles man suspected of taking part in a flash mob-style robbery at the Americana at Brand mall has been arrested, Glendale police announced Thursday.
Ivan Isaac Ramirez was booked on suspicion of organized retail theft, burglary, grand theft, and conspiracy. However, according to L.A. County jail records, Ramirez was cited and released from custody Thursday afternoon.
He’s the first of at least 30 suspects to be arrested in connection to the Aug. 8 robbery at the mall’s Yves Saint Laurent store, police said.
A second suspect, 21-year-old Brianna Jimenez, is also being sought.
“Glendale Police Detectives have been collaborating closely with Americana security and representatives from YSL to piece together details of the crime,” the Glendale Police Department said in a statement. “The investigation remains ongoing as they meticulously gather evidence and analyze leads.”
A series of smash-and-grab robberies have hit high-end stores across Southern California in the past week, including at the Westfield Topanga Nordstrom, Ksubi in Los Angeles, and a Gucci store at Orange County’s South Coast Plaza.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass announced the creation of a multi-agency organized retail crime task force Thursday morning. The task force will include investigators from the LAPD, LASD, California Highway Patrol, Glendale Police, FBI, and other local police agencies.
“We have 22 assigned full-time investigators that will work 24-7,” LAPD Deputy Chief Kris Pitcher said. “Seven days a week, they will be responding to incidents day and night to conduct full investigations to start those incidents and to follow up on every available lead.”
District Attorney George Gascón, who wasn’t present at the press conference, told KNX News his office has also been “an integral part of this task force and this work,” and is dedicating resources from the organized crime division to investigate and prosecute the recent robberies.
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