Nordstrom at the Grove Hit by Looters in Smash-and-Grab Break-in

Three suspects were arrested after thieves stormed the Nordstrom store at the Grove on Monday night, stealing an unknown amount of merchandise.

The break-in was reported at 10:40 p.m. in the 6200 block of West 3rd Street in the Fairfax District.

About 20 individuals entered after the windows were smashed with a sledgehammer. The suspects later fled in four vehicles.

Police pursued one of the fleeing vehicles onto the 110 Freeway. The suspect SUV exited at Hoover Street in South L.A. before the occupants abandoned it and tried to run. Three people were caught and arrested. Footage showed officers pulling merchandise out of the car.

A barricade was set up around The Grove Tuesday morning as work crews boarded up the shattered storefront. Nordstrom sustained an estimated $15,000 worth of damage, while $5,000 worth of merchandise was stolen. There were no injuries.

Just an hour before the Nordstrom theft, a CVS located about 10 miles away was also hit by burglars, who reportedly stole $8,500 in cash. There is still no confirmation as to whether there is a connection between the two incidents.

California has seen a wave of thefts and department store break-ins. On Saturday, more than 80 people arrived in 25 vehicles and broke into a Nordstrom near San Francisco, stealing up to $200,000 in merchandise.

On Sunday, thieves also broke into a Louis Vuitton and a Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills.