In a brazen act, thieves targeted a Nike store in East Los Angeles and made off with about $1,000 worth of merchandise. The incident, caught on video, shows two suspects running into the store with trash bags and quickly grabbing items before fleeing. This comes just a day after a group of about 30 individuals stole over $300,000 worth of merchandise from a nearby Nordstrom store.

Authorities say that these mob-style smash-and-grab robberies are happening frequently in the Los Angeles area. The particular Nike store in East L.A. has become a weekly target. In response to the rise in these crimes, leaders in law enforcement and the business community are calling for action. They are calling on elected officials to change laws, enforce existing laws, and hold repeat offenders accountable.

Data from the Los Angeles Police Department shows that only about a quarter of these types of robberies led to an arrest in 2022. Business owners and community leaders are expressing frustration over the lack of consequences for these criminals who repeatedly commit these crimes.

Law enforcement officials are exploring the use of crime centers equipped with cameras to help improve response times to these incidents. The hope is that increased surveillance and faster responses will deter future crimes.

However, there is still debate about what to do when the thieves are caught. Meanwhile, the people of California are expressing their disappointment in the rise of these crimes, saying that they do not reflect the values of the state.