Up to $300K stolen in "flash mob" robbery at Westfield Topanga Shopping Center in Canoga Park
Police are investigating a "flash mob" robbery that occurred at the Westfield Topanga Shopping Center in Canoga Park on Saturday.
According to Los Angeles Police Department, anywhere between 20 and 30 suspects flooded the mall's Nordstrom store a little after 4 p.m., ransacking shelves and displays for anything they could grab before fleeing.
Despite initial reports that said between $60,000 and $100,000 in stolen items were taken by the group of suspects, LAPD says that nearly $300,000 worth of merchandise was taken in just the several minutes that the masked suspects ravaged the store.
Video from the scene shows suspects grabbing clothing, purses and even dragging displays with them as they wreaked havoc in just several short minutes.
Some reports even indicate that a security guard at the store was sprayed with either mace or pepper spray as the brazen robbery occurred.
A similar incident occurred back in Nov. of 2021, when a group of suspects targeted the same Nordstrom store, spraying one of the security guards with bear spray.
No injuries have been reported.
Related: Investigators seeking help identifying suspects who robbed Tilly's in Westlake Village
Los Angeles area politicians issued statements after video of the incident began to circulate social media.
"What happened today at the Nordstrom in the Topanga Mall is absolutely unacceptable," said a statement from Mayor Karen Bass. "Those who committed these acts and acts like it in neighboring areas must be held accountable. The Los Angeles Police Department will continue to work to not only find those responsible for this incident but to prevent these attacks on retailers from happening in the future."
"The crimes committed at the Topanga Mall are shocking and it's sickening to see brazen organized theft rings active again in LA. These individuals must be held accountable," Los Angeles City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield said in a statement to KCAL News. "Many families, including mine, love going to Westfield Topanga and I know how this sort of event can shake our shared sense of safety. I will continue to work with Mayor Bass, Chief Moore and LAPD to further boost safety measures here and help protect West Valley retailers and customers."
During a press conference on Monday, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon discussed the series of smash-and-grab robberies that have affected the area.
"We've got a team of people that have been working in the Glendale case and other cases, and will continue to do so," he said. "We assigned our organized crime division to work on these cases about a year and a half ago. We view them as organized crime, and we will use every tool available under the law when there is an arrest made to make sure these individuals are held accountable. This is unacceptable behavior in a civilized society."
He's confident that people in the community know the suspects identities, and that even the people who purchase the stolen merchandise can be held accountable.
Residents who regularly shop in the area are fed up with the repeat occurrences, calling out the controversial zero-bail policy that prevents LAPD and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department from requiring cash bail for people arrested on misdemeanors or non-violent offenses.
"Police are handcuffed themselves, they cant do what they're supposed to do," said Woodland Hills resident Steve Grossman. "Criminals are not being prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
"I won't go near this mall or any mall. I do all my shopping online," said Meri Grossman. "It's just, it's too dangerous."
Attorney Scott Tenley says that with the lack of consequences, perpetrators are far more likely to continue committing these brazen acts.
"The concern is, if individuals don't have any money in their pocket, they might end up in jail waiting for trial. The flip side of that, though, is, it creates an incentive for people to commit these types of nonviolent property crimes," Tenley said. "Perpetrators know what to do. Try to dress in mono single-color clothing, cover your face. Stay in the pack. Don't do anything that distinguishes you and get out of there quick. It's almost like a recipe."
Neither the Westfield Topanga mall nor Nordstrom was available for comment upon request by KCAL News.
This is the second robbery to have occurred under similar circumstances in the last week, after a group of 30 was seen stealing up to $300k worth of goods from a Saint Laurent at the Americana in Glendale.
