NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A woman was thrown to the ground as a half-dozen teen shoplifters raided a luxury clothing boutique on the Lower East Side this week and fled with over $10,000 in merchandise, police said Friday.
The NYPD released images of five suspects they’re searching for in the “flash mob” robbery at AVA Galerie at 161 Bowery.
Police said a sixth suspect, a 16-year-old boy, was nabbed at the scene and charged with robbery.
The brazen theft unfolded just after 5 p.m. Wednesday when the teens walked into the store, where some hoodies sell for over $1,000, and started removing clothing off the racks, police said.
Photo credit NYPD
Store employees tried to stop the group from leaving the store with the stolen clothes, leading to a “physical struggle” between the workers and thieves, according to police.
During the confrontation, a 24-year-old worker was thrown to the ground. She suffered non-life-threatening injuries that didn’t require medical attention.
Five of the teens managed to flee the store with clothes valued at $10,700, police said. They were last seen running southbound on the Bowery.
Surveillance images show the suspects fleeing just north of Broome Street, cops said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
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