WSS shoe and athletic wear stores across the greater Los Angeles area have become a hot target for a teenage crime crew.
The Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF) is working to identify a group of 10 to 20 youths who have burglarized a number of the chain’s locations—including a store on S. Central Avenue in South L.A. that was hit five times since early March.
At least nine incidents have been reported at WSS stores in L.A. neighborhoods like South Gate and Boyle Heights since March, with WSS estimating damages of around $40,000 in total.
According to LAPD , the suspects typically enter the stores in the evening hours clad in hoodies and face coverings. “The suspects rapidly enter the locations, remove clothing and other merchandise, and flee without paying for the merchandise,” it said in a statement.
“In each incident the suspects have been observed fleeing on bicycles. The suspects have used force and displayed a lack of regard for the safety of witnesses and victims,” LAPD added.