In recent days, several videos have gone viral in which a group of criminals are seen committing what have been coined "flash mob" robberies. This Friday, the Los Angeles Police Department reported that 11 suspects were arrested in connection to robberies at the Yves Saint Laurent at the Americana at Brand mall in Glendale, a Warehouse shoe store in Highland Park, a Nordstrom in Canoga Park and a Versace in Beverly Hills.
The operation was carried out by the Organized Retail Crime Taskforce, known as ORCT. The group was formed Monday and includes personnel from the Los Angeles, Glendale, Beverly Hills and Burbank Police Departments; the California Highway Patrol; and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
"The city of Los Angeles and neighboring cities have recently experienced an increase in `flash-mob' method retail crime incidents conducted by multiple suspects targeting retail establishments throughout the Los Angeles region," the LAPD said in a statement reported by Fox LA.
Police said they are continuing with investigations and asked citizens who have information about these types of crimes or who know the identities of any suspects to contact authorities.
