September 2, 2023 - Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles Police Department officials report that on September 1, 2023, at approximately 10:20 A.M., two male adult suspects and two female juvenile subjects, entered the WSS Shoe Store at 1600 W. 7th Street in Los Angeles, removed approximately $5,000 worth of items from the shelves, placed them in bags, and began walking out of the business without paying for the items.
Store security confronted the group as they were exiting and one of the female subjects produced a can of pepper spray and threatened to use it if they were stopped. The group then fled with the store’s merchandise on foot South bound on Union Avenue.
Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Rampart Division officers responded to the WSS Shoe Store after receiving a radio call referencing group as “Assault Suspects.”
Responding officers met with the WSS Shoe Store employees, determined that the suspects had committed organized retail theft, obtained their descriptions, and began a search of the area to locate them.
Within minutes of arriving to the call, the responding officers located the group near 8th Street and Union Ave. All four ran from officers and ultimately hid in a nearby building laundry room. Responding officers set up a perimeter to contain the suspects and once sufficient resources arrived, a team of officers formulated a plan, located the suspects, and arrested them without further incident.
All the stolen merchandise (approximately $5,000 worth of new clothing) was recovered and returned to the WSS store. Los Angeles Police Department Organized Retail Theft Task Force responded to Rampart Division to assist with the investigation.
The two male adults, one 19 years old and one 21 years old, had prior arrests for similar crimes. They were both booked for 211 PC (robbery). The two female juvenile subjects are both 16 years old and charged with 602 WIC/ 211 PC (robbery).
Source & photos: Los Angeles Police Department
