LOS ANGELES, CALFORNIA: Law enforcement officials have announced the first arrest in the recent "flash mob" style robbery that occurred at a shopping mall in Los Angeles, where a group of 30 thieves managed to escape with approximately $400,000 worth of Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) merchandise.
The apprehended individual, Ivan Isaac Ramirez, 23, was taken into custody on Thursday, August 17, suspected of being involved in the large-scale theft from the YSL store at the Glendale Americana at Brand shopping center.
Suspect Brianna Jimenez's photo released
Another suspect, Brianna Jimenez, 21, remains at large and is currently being sought by police. A photo of a smirking Jimenez was released by law enforcement over the weekend.
While the names of no other suspects have been disclosed nor any additional arrests made, videos of the August 8 robbery showed multiple individuals dressed in dark clothing and masks entering and swiftly exiting the store.
The YSL robbery is the latest in a series of recent "flash mob" style heists, where large groups overwhelm store employees, seizing as much merchandise as possible before making their getaway.
Ramirez, who now faces several charges including organized retail theft, burglary, grand theft, and conspiracy, was arrested and subsequently booked.
During the robbery, the perpetrators, armed with no weapons, managed to get away with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of YSL goods in under a minute.
Following Ramirez's arrest, Glendale Police Chief Manuel Cid issued a statement denouncing such crimes in the city.
Cid emphasized, "I assure all members of the Glendale community and the broader Los Angeles region that these brazen smash-and-grab robberies and burglaries will not be tolerated."
He indicated that Ramirez's arrest marked just the first in connection to this crime, hinting at more arrests to follow.
Masked thieves make swift getaway in 'flash mob' robbery
Footage from the incident revealed a group of masked and hooded thieves swiftly exiting the store, arms laden with stolen items. They raced toward a waiting lineup of around 20 cars at the curb, which sped away in various directions.
During the escape, one suspect appeared to be momentarily halted by an Amazon delivery driver, who engaged in a brief struggle with the thief. However, someone off-camera advised the driver to release the thief, cautioning against the risk of injury from an escaping vehicle.
According to an employee who spoke with FOX 11, "All merchandise was taken in less than a minute." Glendale police Sgt Victor Jackson described the incident as a "flash mob" style robbery, wherein the group overwhelms store staff by coordinating their entry simultaneously.
Jackson explained, "The staff doesn't know how to respond, they're trying to figure out what's happening." He estimated that around 30 to 40 individuals were involved, with some entering the store to seize items while others waited in getaway vehicles.
Such robberies have become increasingly frequent in California. In another recent occurrence, a group of approximately 20 to 50 suspects targeted a Nordstrom store northwest of Los Angeles, ransacking the location.
Videos circulating on social media depicted individuals in dark hoodies and masks looting the department store at Westfield Topanga Mall, even resorting to deploying bear spray against security guards.
The robbers shattered display cases, snatched high-end designer accessories, and fled the store with thousands of dollars worth of luxury handbags and clothing.