KTLA

Masked thieves steal thousands of dollars in sneakers, clothes in South Los Angeles smash-and-grab

Thieves took thousands of dollars worth of high-end sneakers and shirts from a store in South Los Angeles in a smash-and-grab early Thursday morning, the shops owners say.

The store, Rich Kids L.A. off the intersection of Century Boulevard and Van Ness Avenue, was burglarized at about 3:15 a.m. Surveillance video obtained by OnScene TV showed as many as 10 people running into the store after a white Kia sedan crashed into the front window, allowing them to enter.


As many as 10 people are suspected of stealing thousands of dollars in sneakers and shirts from Rich Kids LA in Gramercy Park. (OnScene.TV)

Inside, a video showed a mad scramble to grab expensive shoes and clothes off shelves and racks. The suspects escaped the scene, leaving the white Kia behind.

Store owners say it took officers with the L.A. Police Department up to two hours to respond to the alarm. The white Kia was left running for the entire time.

As many as 10 people are suspected of stealing thousands of dollars in sneakers and shirts from Rich Kids LA in Gramercy Park. (OnScene.TV)

Mohammad Ghalev, the store’s owner, told KTLA’s Ellina Abovian that the shop has been open for just a few months.

“We didn’t really expect something like this will happen like this,” he said. “It was really bad. It was really sad.”

Ghalev estimated that $25,000 in sneakers and $500 in T-shirts were stolen.

The LAPD didn’t clarify if the white Kia was stolen. The investigation remains underway.