Mob Ransacks L.A. Nordstrom and Uses Bear Spray to Disarm Security

Summary:

A mob of criminals ransacked an LA Nordstrom, using bear spray to disarm security, and making off with around $100,000 worth of high-end merchandise.
This incident is part of a trend of organized crime involving professional retail thieves, affecting cities across the nation.
Changes in local laws and thresholds for prosecution have contributed to the rise of such thefts, with stores losing billions to theft.
LAPD is intensifying its efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice and promises elevated prosecution for those involved in violent incidents.

Caught on camera, dozens of crooks swarming a department store in Los Angeles this weekend and stealing tens of thousands of dollars in merchandise. NBC News correspondent Sam Brock has the details.

Smash and Grab at LA Nordstrom

An LA area Nordstrom's blitz Saturday by smashing grand burglars. Just the latest to shock a city. People were very scared. They were running as if there was like an active shooter.

Bear Spray and High-End Theft

Police say the mob used bear spray to disarm security with 30 to 50 people ransacking the handbag section of the store, stealing around $100,000 of high-end inventory.

Organized Crime on the Rise

LAPD promises to find those involved. Is there any doubt in your mind this is organized crime and has it become a lot more sophisticated? There's no doubt that this is organized. Some of it involves gang members. Some of it involves people that would do an identify as professional retail thieves. Though the LA area alone has been battered by at least four such robberies in the last couple of weeks. It's been a national problem for years. From Sledgehammers in New York City to San Francisco's Union Square mayhem in 2021.

A Trend Across Cities

To this sudden clothing grab in Atlanta, Heatha Herzog wrote a book on the crime trend and points to changes in local laws. Is there something that all of these cities have in common? It's the threshold for these cities to prosecute for grand larceny. The threshold has increased for all of these cities and then we have bail reform. She says some thieves no longer think twice about stealing with stores in 2022 losing tens of billions to theft.

Expecting Harsh Consequences

As for LAPD's investigation, the criminals should expect harsh consequences. For those individuals that were involved in this where bear spray was discharged against the security staff, you're going to find an elevated prosecution. Clearly they were doing it in concert.

Reporter's Account

Sam Brock, NBC News.