A high-end denim store on South La Brea was robbed Tuesday night.
A group of 11 masked men went into Ksubi around 7 p.m. and took off with an estimated $100,000 worth of merchandise, police told the Los Angeles Times.
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A security guard told police that one of the men “simulated a handgun in his pocket,” the outlet added.
The suspects drove away in two different cars.
Ksubi is one of several stores to be hit with a “flash mob” robbery. On Aug. 12, a group of 50 people ransacked a Nordstrom department store at the Westfield Topanga Shopping Center in Canoga Park. Police said the group took off with more than $300,000 worth of merchandise.
On Aug. 8, multiple people robbed a Yves Saint Laurent store at the Americana at Brand mall in Glendale, taking off with $300,000 in merchandise
Security expert Paul Viollis told KNX News’ Jon Baird that organized groups are the ones committing these robberies.
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“They're organized on social media. They're selecting their target strategically focusing on merchandise that's high-end merchandise that can be fenced easily,” he explained.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said he’s been in touch with Mayor Karen Bass’ office regarding the flash mob thefts.
“We're ready, willing, and able to assist, support, collaborate, team up, lend our resources, our human power to help with the effort,” he said. “We've been working on this for years and we will continue to work on it and we've leaned in even more heavily over time as the issue continues to be one that we're struggling with here in California. We're part of the organized retail crime task force led by the governor and the CHP.”
In addition, the Department of Justice is pushing online retailers to make sure their platforms aren’t being used illegally by criminal rings.
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