Police: Mall Theft Suspect Flees Store Topless After Hitting Officer

ARCADIA (CBSLA.com) — Authorities Monday were investigating a topless thief who tried to steal merchandise from a San Gabriel Valley mall.

Just before 8 p.m. on June 29, an Arcadia police officer responded to the Macy's at the Westfield Santa Anita mall for a theft investigation, officials said.

According to police, a 44-year-old Asian woman tried to steal merchandise by putting the items in her purse.

When a Macy's loss prevention officer tried to detain the woman, she resisted and hit the officer several times.

"During the altercation, the suspect's shirt and bra came off," police said.

The woman then "ran to her car topless and left behind her purse containing her driver's license," officials added,

A witness also wrote down the woman's license plate number as she fled the mall in a white Mercedes.

The suspect's name was not released.

The incident was under investigation.