HIT-AND-RUN THEFT OF EXPENSIVE MERCHANDIZE

Neiman Marcus smash-and-grab robbery involved at least 11 suspects

By Dana Bartholomew and Gregory J. Wilcox

Los Angeles Daily News
February 25, 2017

CANOGA PARK - Customers and employees fled the Westfield Topanga mall’s Neiman Marcus Friday morning as an organized crew of nearly a dozen shoplifters stormed into the store in a brazen attempt to steal expensive items, police said.

Video obtained by the Los Angeles Police Department shows the suspects entering the store wearing all black or gray-hooded sweat shirts, said Officer Carlos Valdivia of the LAPD’s Topanga Community Police station.

“I counted at least 11 but there might have been more,” he said. “They came in a single file as they entered the front door and scattered all over the store. They were cutting the wires off expensive items like purses and they were approached by security guards.”

At that point the crew ran out of the store, but they managed to take several purses, he said.

Some display counters on the first floor of the upscale department store’s handbag and perfume section were damaged as security detail scuffled with several of the shoplifters.

The store carries bags, ranging from $100 to more than $2,000, from high-end designers like Saint Laurent, Prada and Christian Louboutin.

Karyn Houde, marketing director of the mall and The Village at Westfield Topanga, referred questions to the LAPD.

“Neiman Marcus called our security and the LAPD arrived quickly,” she said.

Store officials refused to comment on the incident or make employees available for interviews.

Crime scene tape was stretched around a portion of the perfume section, where two suspects had been detained, said LAPD Sgt. Amy Schnieder of the Topanga station.

Police hope they may be able to get fingerprints off the damaged merchandise.

“We’re still investigating but it appears we had an organized shoplifting group that came in,” she said.

Two possible suspects were detained.

“If the suspects are linked (to the attempted theft) they will be taken to the station for questioning,” said Schnieder.

Police would not discuss the status of the two because the investigation was still going on late Friday afternoon.

The initial report said that shots had been fired but that was likely the sound of glass breaking and no weapons were involved, Schnieder said.

Police were searching for other suspects Friday.

By 11 a.m., police said there were no safety issues at the West Valley mall, known for its high-end stores.

Los Angeles Fire Department Battalion Chief Kenny Miller said paramedics were sent to the mall to check on a man who was complaining of “cardiac issues” but he did not know if that was related to the incident.

Tracy Credle of Calabasas had just gone into the mall when police arrived.

“I had just gotten in a store when police came in with their guns drawn looking for somebody,” said Credle. “They told me to stay in the store. Then they came back and went into Neiman Marcus.”

The incident was unsettling, she said.

“But I’m not surprised. It’s just the world we are living in. It happens every day,” she said of crimes.

West Hills resident Judy Davine and a friend were heading into Neiman Marcus for a shopping excursion shortly before 11 a.m. when they learned of the attempted robbery.

“It’s not good. It’s very upsetting, and that concerns me. I’ve lived in the Valley all my life and I definitely think crime is increasing.”

This was the second brazen attempt to steal expensive merchandise at the mall in less than a year.

Last May, a four-man crew wearing hoodies and armed with three hammers and a pistol pulled a smash-and-grab robbery at Ben Bridge, a jewelry store in the middle of the second level of the mall’s west wing. They stole 40 Rolex watches.

The incidents come at a time when crime is rising in the Valley.

Last year robberies across the Valley rose 33 percent from 2015 to 2,085 — compared with 14 percent jump citywide, according to the LAPD. The number of Valley homicides climbed 14 percent to 65 murders, compared with an increase of nearly 4 percent with 294 murders across Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles City Council has asked the LAPD to prepare a report on gang activity west of the 405 Freeway.

EDITOR’S NOTE: These smash-and-grab robberies started back in the ’60s when black gangs invaded clothing stores and each robber grabbed an armful of men’s suits.