Walnut Creek police and city officials warned businesses Sunday that the same group of thieves that targeted a Nordstrom at Broadway Plaza on Saturday night may try to steal from shops again tonight.
While the thievery threat is unconfirmed, and a specific location and time remain unknown, police who are “actively monitoring intelligence” said in a community tweet that businesses “may consider closing early or taking other precautions … out of an abundance of caution.”
According to the tweet, the Walnut Creek police are calling out additional officers and reserves.
Some stores in the area were heeding the advice of police. The manager of the MAC Cosmetics store at Broadway Plaza confirmed they were closing early today and will do so again Monday. Employees at the Tiffany & Co. jewelry store on South Main Street said they were taking extra precautions but wouldn’t offer specifics.
On Saturday night, two men and one woman were arrested after dozens of looters ransacked the Nordstrom store during what police called an “organized” and “planned” robbery. Approximately 80 people were involved in the incident, which occurred shortly before 9 p.m. when Nordstrom and other stores at the center were still open.
“This is a horrific crime,” Walnut Creek Mayor Kevin Wilk said Sunday. “It’s terrible. Not just for the people who live here but for those employed. We need to ensure the safety of all those in Walnut Creek.”
Police said they would be stepping up their presence in the downtown area in response to the Saturday looting incident and warnings about another possible incident on Sunday. In August, after an uptick in crime at the Nordstrom store, the Walnut Creek City Council unanimously voted to increase the police presence in the area.
“We need to do whatever we can to ensure that these kind of brazen incidents don’t happen,” Wilk said. “We need to respond aggressively to these types of threats.”
Wilk added that Walnut Creek police became aware of Saturday’s Nordstrom looting plans through electronic chatter moments before it occurred, but weren’t able to prevent it from happening. Police did not respond to a request asking for further details about the warning.
The three suspects arrested at the scene are ages 18, 30 and 32. Two are from San Francisco and the other is from Oakland. The three were arrested on suspicion of robbery, burglary, conspiracy and possession of stolen property. All three were booked late Saturday night at the Martinez Detention Facility.
The woman was also arrested on suspicion of illegal possession of a firearm by a felon and carrying a concealed weapon. According to San Mateo Superior Court records, she previously had been charged with shoplifting, prostitution, resisting arrest, possession of burglary tools and the use of a stun gun in incidents in 2016 and 2017.
She is currently being held on $275,000 bail while the other two suspects are being held on $200,000 bail each.
During Saturday night’s looting spree, police said two Nordstrom employees were assaulted and another was pepper sprayed. According to city spokeswoman Betsy Burkhart, the employees’ injuries were minor and they were treated at the scene.
Police are continuing to review video surveillance footage and Mayor Wilk said authorities are also reviewing data picked up by automated license plate readers.
The incident mirrors one that happened on Friday night at a Louis Vuitton store in San Francisco’s Union Square, where several dozen looters stole merchandise. A police spokesman said they have arrested several individuals involved and were also responding to other incidents of looting in the surrounding area. On Sunday, police said they were “controlling and limiting” traffic around Union Square.
Burkhart said Walnut Creek police don’t know whether the Nordstrom looting is connected to the Louis Vuitton one, but that they will be reaching out to authorities in San Francisco.
Amid the protests in response to the murder of George Floyd in summer 2020, Walnut Creek imposed a citywide curfew after a woman was shot and looters targeted stores at Broadway Plaza. In December, the Contra Costa District Attorney filed charges against nine individuals, accusing them of stealing from the Walnut Creek mall during those protests.
This is a developing story.
Source: www.mercurynews.com