Police have announced the first arrest in the recent “flash mob” robbery at a Los Angeles area mall in which 30 thieves stole $400,000 in YSL merchandise.
Ivan Isaac Ramirez, 23, was arrested Thursday for his alleged involvement in the massive theft of a YSL store at Glendale Americana at Brand.
Another suspect, Brianna Jimenez, 21, is still at large and is currently being sought by police. Her grinning photo was released by police over the weekend.
The names of other suspects were not released and no arrests were made.
Videos of the Aug. 8 robbery posted online showed people in dark clothing and masks running into the store and then quickly exiting.
The YSL incident is the latest in a string of recent “flash mob” style robberies, with large groups overpowering employees and grabbing as much as they can before fleeing.
Ivan Isaac Ramirez (pictured) was arrested Thursday for his alleged involvement in the massive theft of a YSL store at Glendale Americana at Brand
Suspect Brianna Jimenez (pictured) is still at large and is currently wanted by police. Her photo was released by police over the weekend
According to police, Ramirez was arrested and charged with multiple charges including organized retail theft, burglary, grand larceny and conspiracy.
In the shocking robbery, the thieves used no weapons and escaped with hundreds of thousands of Yves Saint Laurent in less than a minute.
In a statement issued after Ramirez’s arrest, Glendale Police Chief Manuel Cid said such crimes were unacceptable in his city.
“I assure all members of the Glendale community and the entire Los Angeles area that these brazen robberies and burglaries will not be tolerated,” Cid said.
“This is the first arrest related to this crime and more arrests will follow,” the police chief continued.
Footage from the robbery of the store showed a group of hooded and masked thieves running out of the store with guns full of merchandise.
They sprinted down a sidewalk to the curb, where police said about 20 cars were waiting for them, and sped away in different directions.
A suspect attempting to escape appeared to have been stopped by an Amazon delivery driver who was spotted struggling with the thief.
Videos posted online showed a group of thieves in dark clothing and masks running into the Yves Saint Laurent store at Americana at Brand just before 5 p.m. on August 8
Moments later, the thieves ran out again with guns full of goods
The group sprinted down a crowded aisle with their stolen items
The brazen robbery occurred at the upscale mall Americana at Brand in Glendale
But someone overheard telling the delivery driver to just let him go, saying it was “not worth it” to be hit by a fleeing vehicle.
An employee later told FOX 11 that “all the merchandise was picked up in less than a minute.”
Speaking to KTLA about the incident, Glendale Police Sgt. Victor Jackson said there was a “brief pursuit” of the suspects, but police did not find any of them.
Describing the robbery as a “flash mob,” he explained, “Under the circumstances, they kind of overwhelm the store staff.” They all come in at the same time.
“Staff don’t know how to react, they’re trying to figure out what’s happening.”
Jackson added that at least 30 to 40 people would need to be involved in the plan, noting that there were some who went to the store and got the items and others who waited in the cars.
Robberies like this have become all too common in California, residents say.
In another recent incident, a group of around 20 to 50 suspects struck a north stream northwest of La La Land and flooded the site.
Footage taken inside the store shows men in dark hoodies and face masks ransacking the department store at Westfield Topanga Mall and even attacking security guards with bear spray.
A shocking video has captured a scene of mob-style chaos, showing a robbery involving up to fifty looters at a Los Angeles mall
Videos quickly circulated on social media showing the mob smashing into display cases and looting high-end designer accessories, some of which still have electronic security tags attached.
One of the thieves was even seen fleeing, towing a large metal rack with a luxury leather bag still attached with a security tag attached.
The group sprinted to the door to quickly exit the store and secure as much merchandise as they could carry.
The thieves made off with thousands of dollars worth of luxury handbags and designer clothing, an LAPD spokesman told NBC News.