LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Three suspects were in custody Tuesday after they were arrested in connection with a smash-and-grab robbery at the popular Los Angeles shopping mall the Grove in which at least 20 people smashed a window at Nordstrom's and raided the store.
One group of suspects led police on a freeway chase and foot pursuit through South Los Angeles, using the Santa Monica (10) Freeway and the Harbor (110) Freeway as their getaway routes before exiting the 110 at Manchester Avenue at about 11:05 p.m. Monday, according to Officer Drake Madison of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Police then created a perimeter and began a foot pursuit of the suspects in the area near Hoover Street and Vermont Avenue. Officers recovered several items of clothing, a cash register and gloves from a Nissan SUV, which they believe is the suspects' vehicle. It was not immediately known if the arrested suspects were part of the police pursuit, Madison said. Other suspects remain on the loose.
Police said at least 20 people robbed the Nordstrom's at the popular retail and entertainment complex in the Fairfax District just before 11 p.m. Monday.
The robbers used a sledgehammer and assorted tools to smash one of the department store's windows and reportedly took several items of men's clothing. At least four cars sped away from Nordstrom's as LAPD patrol cars responded to the burglary call.
Police installed barbed wire Tuesday morning just outside the Grove.
Similar crimes have occurred recently in the Los Angeles area and the Bay Area.
At about 9:45 p.m. Monday, six suspects entered a CVS Pharmacy in the 5800 block of South Vermont Avenue in the South Los Angeles area and stole three cash registers, taking about $8,500 in cash, Madison said. It was unclear if the same suspects later targeted the Grove.
On Sunday, storefront windows of the Louis Vuitton and Saks Fifth Avenue stores in Beverly Hills were smashed during attempted burglaries.
"Multiple suspects traveling in several vehicles descended on the locations and used a sledgehammer to try to break through front windows," Beverly Hills Police Sgt. Anthony Adams said. The burglars did not get into the stores, and nothing was taken, according to police.
In the Walnut Creek area on Saturday night, about 80 people descended upon a Nordstrom's and stole merchandise before fleeing in numerous vehicles. Some arrests were reported. That incident came a day after several stores in San Francisco's Union Square were targeted by people who smashed windows and fled in vehicles.
During a media briefing while touring a Bay Area vaccine clinic Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom reacted to the crimes.
"I have no sympathy, no empathy whatsoever for people smashing and grabbing, stealing people's items, creating havoc and terror on our streets. None. Period. Full stop," Newsom said. "We want real accountability. We want people prosecuted, and we want people to feel safe this holiday season."
