A large group of thieves stormed a Louis Vuitton store Kenwood, Ohio on Wednesday, leaving with over $400,000 in merchandise. The store was almost entirely cleared out in yet another example of organized retail theft.
A group of close to a dozen individuals were reportedly dropped off at the Kenwood Towne Centre around 3 pm on Wednesday. The group then proceeded to immediately storm the mall’s Louis Vuitton store, where they made off with close to $400,000 in merchandise in a matter of minutes.
The group then sprinted out of the mall and were filmed getting into a black sedan and gray SUV, according to WSMV, a local outlet.
Police have yet to make any arrests and are asking the public for information.
Organized retail theft has skyrocketed across the country over the last two years. The problem has been particularly pronounced in California, where leftist prosecutors have watered down penalties for theft.
Criminals have been able to take advantage of California’s Proposition 47, which downgraded penalties for multiple crimes. This includes shoplifting, grand theft, receiving stolen property, forgery, and fraud. As long as the value of the goods stolen remains under $950, the thief will not be hit with felony charges.
Organized retail theft has become so prevalent that retail outlets — particularly high-end stores such as Louis Vuitton — have closed hundreds of locations across the county, particularly in San Francisco. Even California Governor Gavin Newsom, a strong proponent of Proposition 47, has criticized San Francisco prosecutors for their lack of willingness to prosecute criminals.
Legislatures across the country, including California, have upped the penalties for organized retail theft in response to the trend. Other states, such as Florida, have added increased penalties in hopes of tackling organized retail theft before it becomes a problem.