Lululemon smash-and-grab caught on surveillance video in Pennsylvania
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Pennsylvania authorities revealed Tuesday that Lululemon was captured on surveillance video capturing a brazen attack and grab by two masked men using a sledgehammer to break into the store overnight.
The suspects, who were seen grabbing armfuls of merchandise during multiple burglaries, fled the scene in a U-Haul truck, Lower Merion Police told Fox 29 Philadelphia.
The incident at the Ardmore shopping center reportedly occurred just before 2 a.m. Tuesday and resulted in the theft of merchandise that investigators believe was worth more than $5,000.
In the video released by police, two masked suspects dressed in all black brandished what appeared to be a sledgehammer at the store’s windowed entrance. Then, without hesitation, they quickly passed through the opening and targeted the winter coats and shirts in the men’s section.
Surveillance cameras show a masked suspect smashing through the entrance of a Lululemon store during an overnight break-in. (Lower Merion Police/Fox 29 Philadelphia)
HOLIDAY CRIME FEARS GROW AS ‘JUGGING’ THIEVES TARGET SHOPPERS CARRYING CASH AND GIFTS: ‘IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME’
The suspects were seen grabbing entire racks of puffer jackets and sweatshirts before going out. The video shows the men returning to the store a second time to buy more items after dropping off the stolen items.
The footage generally shows that the robbery lasted about five minutes.
According to Fox 29, the individuals fled the scene after loading the stolen goods into the bed of a U-Haul pickup truck parked outside.
Suspected thieves who smashed a Washington State Store Front with a Truck in an ATM Robbery Attempt were CAUGHT ON CAMERA
After an overnight shootout at Lululemon, the suspects fled the scene in a U-Haul truck, police said. (Lower Merion Police/Fox 29 Philadelphia)
The store reopened in the afternoon, but the front door’s glass remained shattered and a large banner was placed in front of the entrance, the local station reported.
Tuesday’s incident wasn’t the first time the Lululemon store was targeted, according to an employee across the street from the store.
“I walked in here with my bartender and we looked and it’s scary to have this happening right in front of us,” Gina Picciano, general manager of Lola’s Garden, told Fox 29.
MASKED LOOKERS TRASHING FLORIDA STORE AND STEALING CLOTHES WERE CAUGHT ON CAMERA
The glass entrance to a Lululemon store was shattered after a smash-and-grab theft, authorities said. (Lower Merion Police/Fox 29 Philadelphia)
In the incident last year, Picciano said the theft occurred during store business hours.
“All of a sudden a bunch of people start coming out with armfuls of stuff, so this is happening in broad daylight,” he added. “It doesn’t matter if it’s day or night, and it’s crazy.”
Lower Merion Police told Fox 29 that delayed alarm alerts can impact response times, emphasizing crime prevention and partnerships with merchants.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
“Sometimes there can be a delay in getting these calls to Lululemon because their operations center is them, they are the ones receiving the video and the alert,” Police Inspector Andy Block said. “Prevention is key here and we are always concerned about the criminal element entering our communities and our officers are always working to prevent this; we want to work with our traders to make our community safer.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Lower Merion Police and Lululemon for more information.
