Arlington Police swarmed and evacuated the Pentagon City Mall on Sunday during a smash-and-grab robbery at the Fashion Centre.
Afterward, the alleged assailants made the desperate decision to escape the heavy police presence by running toward the Pentagon.
🔥🚨BREAKING NEWS: Arlington Police are responding to a smash-and-grab robbery at ritzy shopping mall across the street from the Pentagon. Three men robbed a store at the Fashion Centre in Arlington Virginia and began running to towards the Pentagon in an attempt to escape the… pic.twitter.com/SH0yh56LiH
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) September 1, 2024
The initial scenes at the popular Northern Virginia mall were chaotic, with rumors spreading of a possible shooting on the premises.
Video of @ArlingtonVaPD arriving on the Nordstrom side of the Pentagon City Mall parking lot. Still a ton of confusion at that point. pic.twitter.com/IM8JDNPI6p
— Kara Rowland (@kararowland) September 1, 2024
— jay (@jayzamzz) September 1, 2024
DC News Now has more information about the ongoing investigation by the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) following the entry of suspects into the mall and the deployment of a fire extinguisher on Sunday afternoon.
The suspects, described as three juvenile boys wearing all black clothing, then fled on foot, according to the ACPD.
No injuries are reported at this time. People who were inside the mall self-evacuated; however, it remains open.
The investigation is ongoing, and police remain at the scene.
Police are encouraging anyone with information to call the department’s tip line at 703-228-4180 or email ACPDTipline@arlingtonva.us.
The suspects in the robbery are still at large. They are described as three Black males in their teens
A “smash and grab” refers to a type of theft where criminals quickly smash a barrier, such as a window or door, to gain access to valuable items, and then grab as much as they can before fleeing the scene. These incidents often target retail stores, jewelry shops or electronics stores where high-value goods are on display. The method is characterized by its speed and aggression, typically occurring within seconds or minutes to minimize the risk of being caught by law enforcement. The term has become more widely known due to a rise in such crimes in various cities.
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