WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (AP) — Authorities and witnesses say about 80 people, some wearing ski masks and wielding crowbars, swarmed a department store in the San Francisco Bay Area, stealing merchandise before fleeing in dozens of cars.

Police say three people were arrested while the majority got away after the large-scale theft Saturday night at the Nordstrom in Walnut Creek.

According to authorities, two employees were assaulted and one was pepper-sprayed.

The incident came a day after police said several high-end stores in San Francisco’s Union Square were broken into by a large group of people who smashed windows, stole merchandise, and then ran to waiting cars.

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WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (AP) — About 80 people, some wearing ski masks and wielding crowbars, ransacked a high-end department store in the San Francisco Bay Area, assaulting employees and stealing merchandise before fleeing in cars waiting outside, police and witnesses said.

Three people were arrested while the majority got away after the large-scale theft Saturday night shocked shoppers at the Nordstrom at the Broadway Plaza outdoor mall in Walnut Creek, police said in a statement Sunday.

Two employees were assaulted and one was hit with pepper spray during what police called “clearly a planned event.”

NBC Bay Area reporter Jodi Hernandez tweeted that she saw the thieves rush into the store in the downtown shopping district in the city some 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of San Francisco.

“About 25 cars just blocked the street and rushed into the Walnut Creek Nordstrom making off with goods before getting in cars and speeding away,” Hernandez said on Twitter.

Cellphone video from the scene showed masked people streaming out of the store, carrying bags and boxes, jumping into the cars and fleeing the scene.

Brett Barrette, the manager of a nearby PF Chang’s restaurant, began locking doors at his establishment while watching the chaos unfold.

“We probably saw 50 to 80 people in ski masks, crowbars, a bunch of weapons,” Barrette told ABC 7 News.

The Walnut Creek Police Department said a firearm was recovered from one of the three arrested suspects.

Nordstrom employees began calling 911 around 9 pm as thieves entered the store and began stealing merchandise, police said.

“Walnut Creek Police investigators are in the process of reviewing surveillance footage to attempt to identify other suspects responsible for this brazen act,” the department said in Sunday’s statement.

Nordstrom was open as usual on Sunday.

The incident came a day after several high-end stores in San Francisco’s Union Square were broken into by a large group of people who smashed windows, stole merchandise, and then ran to waiting cars, police said.

Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Yves Saint Laurent, Burberry, and Dolce & Gabbana were all targeted Friday night, Fox 2 News reported.

San Francisco Police Officer Robert Rueca said in a statement posted on social media that officers responded to reports of possible looting and vandalism at Union Square stores Friday night and arrested several people.

Stores in Union Square, a posh shopping district popular with tourists, have been targeted for years by well-organized thieves who at times have rammed vehicles into storefronts to break glass doors and windows and enter the buildings during non-business hours.

In July, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law that allows prosecutors to charge those who work with others to steal merchandise.

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WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (AP) — About 80 people, some with ski masks and crowbars, searched a luxury San Francisco Bay Area department store, attacking employees and stealing merchandise before fleeing in cars waiting outside, police and witnesses said .

Three people were arrested while the majority escaped after the wholesale theft shocked shoppers at the Nordstrom at the Broadway Plaza mall in Walnut Creek on Saturday night, police said in a statement Sunday.

Two staff members were attacked and one hit with pepper spray, while police described it as a “clearly planned event”.

NBC Bay Area reporter Jodi Hernandez tweeted that she saw the thieves rush into the store in the downtown shopping district, about 20 miles northeast of San Francisco.

“About 25 cars just blocked the road and sped into Walnut Creek Nordstrom to get supplies before getting into cars and speeding off,” Hernandez said on Twitter.

Cellphone video from the scene showed masked people streaming out of the store, carrying bags and boxes, jumping into cars and fleeing the scene.

Brett Barrette, the manager of a nearby PF Chang restaurant, began locking the doors of his eatery as he watched the chaos unfold.

“We probably saw 50 to 80 people with ski masks, crowbars and a bunch of guns,” Barrette told ABC 7 News.

The Walnut Creek Police Department said a firearm was recovered from one of the three suspects arrested.

Nordstrom employees began dialing 911 around 9 p.m. when thieves entered the store and began stealing merchandise, police said.

“Walnut Creek Police Department investigators are in the process of reviewing surveillance footage to try to identify other suspects responsible for this brazen act,” the department said in Sunday’s statement.

Nordstrom was open as usual on Sunday.

The incident came a day after a large group of people broke into several high-end stores in San Francisco’s Union Square, smashed windows, stole merchandise and then ran to serviced cars, police said.

Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Yves Saint Laurent, Burberry and Dolce & Gabbana were all targeted on Friday night, Fox 2 News reported.

San Francisco Police Officer Robert Rueca said in a statement released on social media that officers responded to reports of possible looting and vandalism at Union Square shops on Friday night and arrested several people.

Shops in Union Square, a high-end shopping district popular with tourists, have for years been targeted by well-organized thieves, who sometimes ram vehicles into storefronts in order to break through glass doors and windows and enter the buildings after business hours.

In July, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation allowing prosecutors to charge those who collude with others to steal goods.

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WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — About 80 people, some with ski masks and crowbars, searched a San Francisco Bay Area luxury department store, attacking employees and stealing merchandise before fleeing in cars waiting outside, police and witnesses said.

Three people were arrested while the majority escaped after the wholesale theft shocked shoppers at the Nordstrom at the Broadway Plaza mall in Walnut Creek on Saturday night, police said in a statement Sunday.

Two employees were attacked and one hit with pepper spray, while police described it as a “clearly planned event”.

NBC Bay Area reporter Jodi Hernandez tweeted that she saw the thieves rush into the store in the downtown shopping district, about 20 miles northeast of San Francisco.

“About 25 cars just blocked the road and sped into Walnut Creek Nordstrom, making off with merchandise before getting into cars and sped away,” Hernandez said on Twitter.

Cellphone video from the scene showed masked people streaming out of the store, carrying bags and boxes, jumping into cars and fleeing the scene.

Brett Barrette, the manager of a nearby PF Chang restaurant, began locking the doors of his eatery as he watched the chaos unfold.

“We probably saw 50 to 80 people with ski masks, crowbars and a bunch of guns,” Barrette told ABC 7 News.

The Walnut Creek Police Department said a firearm was recovered from one of the three suspects arrested.

Nordstrom employees began dialing 911 around 9 p.m. when thieves entered the store and began stealing merchandise, police said.

“Walnut Creek Police Department investigators are in the process of reviewing surveillance footage to try to identify other suspects responsible for this brazen act,” the department said in Sunday’s statement.

Nordstrom was open as usual on Sunday.

The incident came a day after a large group of people broke into several high-end stores in San Francisco’s Union Square, smashed windows, stole merchandise and then ran to serviced cars, police said.

Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Yves Saint Laurent, Burberry and Dolce & Gabbana were all targeted on Friday night, Fox 2 News reported.

San Francisco Police Officer Robert Rueca said in a statement released on social media that officers responded to reports of possible looting and vandalism at Union Square shops on Friday night and arrested several people.

Shops in Union Square, a high-end shopping district popular with tourists, have for years been targeted by well-organized thieves, who sometimes ram vehicles into storefronts in order to break through glass doors and windows and enter the buildings after business hours.

In July, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation allowing prosecutors to charge those who collude with others to steal goods.

The post About 80 thieves ransack division retailer close to San Francisco appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Posted: Nov 21, 2021 / 2:46 PM CST
/ Updated: 11/21/2021 / 4:30 PM CST

Union Square visitors view damage to the Louis Vuitton store on Sunday, November 21, 2021 after looters raided stores in San Francisco late Saturday night. (Danielle Echeverria / San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (AP) – Approximately 80 people, some of whom were wearing ski masks and wielding crowbars, ransacked a luxury department store in the San Francisco Bay Area, assaulting employees and stealing goods, before escaping in cars waiting outside, police and witnesses said .

Three people were arrested while the majority escaped after the large-scale theft shocked shoppers in Nordstrom at the Broadway Plaza shopping mall in Walnut Creek on Saturday night, police said in a statement on Sunday.

Two employees were attacked and one hit with pepper spray while police described it as a “clearly planned event”.

NBC Bay Area reporter Jodi Hernandez tweeted that she saw the thieves rush into the store in the downtown shopping district about 20 miles northeast of San Francisco.

“About 25 cars have just blocked the road and hurtled into Walnut Creek Nordstrom with goods before they got into cars and raced away,” Hernandez said on Twitter.

Cell phone videos from the crime scene showed masked people pouring out of the store, carrying bags and boxes, jumping into cars, and fleeing from the crime scene.

Brett Barrette, the manager of a nearby PF Chang restaurant, began locking the doors of his house as he watched the chaos unfold.

“We saw probably 50 to 80 people with ski masks, crowbars and a bunch of guns,” Barrette told ABC 7 News.

Walnut Creek police said a gun had been seized from one of the three suspects arrested.

Nordstrom employees called 911 around 9 p.m. when thieves entered the store and started stealing goods, police said.

“Walnut Creek Police investigators are in the process of reviewing the surveillance footage in an attempt to identify other suspects responsible for this audacious act,” the department said in a statement on Sunday.

Nordstrom was open as usual on Sunday.

The incident came the day after a large group of people broke into several high-end stores in Union Square, San Francisco, smashed windows, stole goods, and then ran to serviceable cars, police said.

Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Yves Saint Laurent, Burberry and Dolce & Gabbana were all targeted on Friday night, Fox reported 2 News.

San Francisco Police Officer Robert Rueca said in a statement posted on social media that officers responded Friday night to reports of possible looting and vandalism in Union Square shops and arresting several people.

Shops in Union Square, a high-end shopping district popular with tourists, have been attacked for years by well-organized thieves who have sometimes rammed vehicles into shop fronts to smash glass doors and windows and enter the buildings outside of business hours.

In July, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law allowing prosecutors to prosecute those who work with others to steal goods.

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