A daring and coordinated group of around 50 masked and hooded thieves wreaked havoc on Saturday afternoon as they stormed the prestigious Nordstrom store located in the Westfield Topanga Mall. The massive heist, which took place shortly after 4 p.m., left pedestrians and the community in shock, while Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed her outrage and condemnation of the incident.

Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson Pedro Muniz reported that the assault occurred at the store located at 21725 Victory Blvd., east of Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Images captured by witnesses and shared on social media depicted a mixed group of suspects, both male and female, ransacking displays, grabbing designer clothing and bags, and hastily fleeing the scene.

Muniz confirmed that between 30 and 50 individuals were involved in the criminal operation. Despite the chaos caused by the robbery, the shopping mall was not evacuated. However, an ambulance was called to tend to a man affected by bear spray, apparently used as a distraction tactic by the assailants.

Preliminary police estimates suggest that the value of the stolen items could range between $60,000 and $100,000. Mayor Karen Bass wasted no time in condemning the incident, labeling it as "absolutely unacceptable." In a public statement, Bass underscored the importance of holding the culprits accountable not only for this robbery but also for similar acts that affect the community and local retailers.

The assault bears striking similarities to another recent incident in the area. The Glendale Police Department described an assault on the Yves Saint Laurent store at the Americana at Brand shopping center, where a similar group of individuals carried out a "flash mob" style attack. Glendale Police Sergeant Victor Jackson revealed that, in that case, the thieves managed to escape with an estimated loss of around $300,000 worth of merchandise.

The strategy behind these heists appears to involve the simultaneous and coordinated entry of a large number of individuals into the store, overwhelming the staff and seizing valuable products before fleeing in various vehicles. Authorities in both cities remain on high alert and are investigating these incidents to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice and to prevent future similar attacks.

Videos capturing these crimes are widely circulating on social media and have drawn the attention of the general community, intensifying pressure on law enforcement agencies to solve these cases and restore security in the region's shopping centers. Original Telemundo 52 Los Angeles Published Article.