Three folks have been charged for allegedly robbing the Westfield Topanga Buying Middle as a part of a flash mob that made off with greater than $90,000 in merchandise.
Joshua Jones, 22; Amaya McDonald, 19; and Justin Jones, 18, have been every charged with three counts of theft, two counts of housebreaking and one rely of retail theft, the Los Angeles Police Division introduced in a information launch Tuesday.
On Friday, a dozen folks bumped into two shops on the mall at round 5 p.m. and grabbed merchandise whereas knocking over a number of show instances, police mentioned. A number of suspects wore hoodies and face masks, in response to surveillance photos that captured the group working away from the scene. Investigators with the LAPD’s Organized Retail Theft Process Drive arrived on the scene to work with native police and mall safety to establish potential suspects and automobiles concerned within the theft.
On Aug. 12, 2023, objects price as much as $100,000 have been stolen in a “flash rob,” referred to as flash mob theft, at Nordstrom retailer, Westfield Topanga Buying Middle in Canoga Park. In keeping with the Los Angeles Police Division, dozens of face-covered suspects flooded the shop at about 4 p.m., grabbed objects from cabinets and shows, and fled.
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Shortly after 9:30 p.m. officers with the LAPD’s Southwest division discovered and detained one of many automobiles concerned within the theft. Police discovered 5 folks inside, together with two juveniles, believed to be concerned within the theft, in response to police. Joshua Jones, Justin Jones, McDonald and the 2 juveniles have been taken into custody by detectives and booked on suspicion of theft.
Shortly earlier than midnight, Huntington Seaside Cops pulled over one other automobile that matched the outline of one of many automobiles concerned within the theft. Officers discovered stolen merchandise that LAPD detectives verified was taken from the Westfield Topanga Mall. The motive force, 26-year-old Rajene Robinson, was arrested on suspicion of felony possession of stolen property, in response to authorities.
The three named suspects charged by the Los Angeles County district lawyer’s workplace appeared in court docket on Tuesday and pleaded not responsible.
Prosecutors reviewed the case in opposition to Robinson and despatched it again to regulation enforcement for additional investigation, a district lawyer spokesperson mentioned.
All three named suspects are described by prosecutors as being in control of the flash mob group. The 2 unnamed minors have been additionally charged in connection to the theft and are because of seem in court docket on Wednesday.
Courtroom information present that Joshua Jones was convicted of first-degree theft in Could 2023 in Los Angeles County.
Anybody with details about the case can contact detectives with the LAPD’s Business Crimes Division, Organized Retail Crime Part at (818) 374-9437. Movies or details about this incident could be despatched to ORC@lapd.on-line. Nameless ideas could be made with Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.
The theft follows a string of comparable incidents throughout Southern California over the past a number of years, the place flash mobs storm purchasing malls, 7-Eleven comfort shops, and different retail places.
A separate flash mob theft on the Westfield Topanga Buying Middle passed off in August 2023 when a bunch of about 50 folks robbed the mall’s Nordstrom retailer. The group coordinated their crime over social media, in response to authorities. The group put out a name to arrange a “crew” to focus on particular shops at sure instances of day, Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta introduced in July when a number of of the suspects have been sentenced to jail.
