These beauty bandits are hitting stores across Southern California. The suspects walk in with empty purses and shopping bags, then they fill them up and run. They’re already stolen thousands of dollars in make-up from stores in Marina del Rey, Tustin and Glendale.
Police Thursday released video of suspected members of an organized theft ring that has targeted high-end makeup stores in the Los Angeles area.
An investigation was launched in January by the Los Angeles Police Department's Commercial Crimes Division, Burglary Special Section.
"The suspects enter the businesses with empty purses or shopping bags," according to a police statement. "The suspects conceal high dollar fragrances in the empty bags and leave the store without paying for the merchandise. In some incidents, the suspects were confronted by employees who attempted to retrieve the merchandise and were overpowered by the suspects."
Losses have been in the thousands of dollars, according to the LAPD, which reported that the suspects have struck stores at the Beverly Center and in Studio City, Marina Del Rey, Tustin and Glendale.
Depicted in surveillance video are three woman and a man. All of the suspects are black and have black hair and brown eyes. The man is about 25-to-30 years old, 6-feet-4 inches tall and weighs around 230 pounds.
One of the women is 25-30, 5-feet-4 inches and 130 pounds; another is also 25-30, 5-feet-5 inches and 175 pounds and had red streaks in her hair; and the third woman is 5-feet-3 inches, 125 pounds and is estimated to be between 18 and 20 years old.
Anyone with information about the suspects was urged to call (213) 486- 6940 to speak with Detective Prieto. After-hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to (877) LAPD-24-7.
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Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers at (800) 222- TIPS or lacrimestoppers.org.
