A mob of 50+ people stormed a Nordstrom in Topanga, California over the weekend in a “smash and grab” attack, that has since gone viral for the sheer brazen display of chaos. 


@netofrmla Topanga Mall today 8/12/23 #theft #smashandgrab #viral #818 #topangamall #sanfernandovalley ♬ original sound - Ern


Videos taken by shoppers show pure pandemonium as masked figures drag racks of designer bags out of the store. The West Field Topanga Shopping Center security had no chance of stopping the thieves and one of them was even sprayed with bear mace. 


According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the group stole between $60,000 to $100,000 worth of merchandise.



Noel Escobar posted on TikTok and Twitter, videos of the robbery while he was out back-to-school shopping.


@blonded_ Went shopping for the new school year yesterday and then this happened. Welcome to the new era of Los Angeles. #nordstrom ♬ original sound - Noel


This robbery bares resemblance to the looting of a Yves Saint Laurent store that happened earlier in the week in Glendale. There, civilians saw dozens of masked burglarers running out of the designer store with over $300,000 worth of luxury items.


@crystalfetish Wow and he has time to hold the door open for his friends! If this is happening in Glendale, Los Angeles is F’d! I feel stupid for actually paying at these stores #stlaurent #yslrobbery #ysl #grabamd #americana ##smashandgrab ♬ original sound - crystalfetish


This type of “smash and grab” approach is to overwhelm both retail staff and security. A similar mass burglary event was “planned” online in the UK earlier this week but turned into a brawl between police.


No arrests have been made but beware of high-end department stores well-liked by mothers. Nieman Marcus is shaking in his boots.