'Flash Mob' Theft Inspires City To Explore Opening LAPD Substation Inside Mall

LOS ANGELES, CA — Following a wave of organized retail thefts across Los Angeles County, city officials are floating the idea of opening up a Los Angeles Police Department substation inside one mall where a "flash mob" style burglary recently took place.

Councilman Bob Blumenfield introduced a motion at the City Council meeting Friday that seeks to open an LAPD outpost inside Westfield Topanga.

Earlier this month, some 30 to 50 people stormed the Nordstrom at the Canoga Park mall and made off with a haul of merchandise worth $300,000, according to the LAPD. Retail thefts of a similar style have been increasing recently, leading to increased scrutiny of how the law enforcement handles commercial burglaries.

"The Los Angeles Police Department cannot and should not serve as private security for Westfield, but it is imperative to explore options on how the city can best help address mass theft and other crime — not just at this shopping mall, but in the surrounding Warner Center neighborhood," Blumenfield's motion reads.

The councilman's motion needs to make its way through the council's legislative process in the coming weeks. If it's approved by the council, it would instruct the LAPD and city officials to draft a report on the feasibility of creating a substation at the mall.

But the final call of whether to open a substation rests with Police Chief Michael Moore, based on rules outlined in the city charter, according to Blumenfield.

On Monday, multi-agency coalition launched the Organized Retail Crime Taskforce, meant to combat "flash mob" style robberies. The effort has already lead to 11 arrests connected to thefts at Westfield Topanga, the Beverly Center, Warehouse Shoe Store in Highland Park and the Americana at Brand, officials said.

City News Service contributed to this report.