$250K Smash-And-Grab Rocks Marin, 40 Suspects Sought: Cops

LARKSPUR, CA — Around 40 suspects — of which at least two are known to authorities — are sought in connection with a $250,000 Marin flash mob smash-and-grab burglary Sunday night, Central Marin Police said in a statement Wednesday.

The Marin Country Mart Shopping Center burglary is among the latest in a wave of similar incidents that has struck fear in shoppers and retail workers throughout the Bay Area and beyond on the eve of the holiday shopping season, the worst of possible times for local businesses trying to weather persistent headwinds amid a lingering pandemic.

Two employees were injured and another pepper sprayed Saturday when a flash mob of around 80 hit a Walnut Creek Nordstrom store, the day after targeting high-end retailers in San Francisco’s Union Square.

Those incidents are considered robberies, crimes in which the use or threat of force is used. The Marin incident, which involved an unoccupied business, is being investigated as a burglary.

Around 40 suspects smashed their way through the front window of The RealReal and stole merchandise valued at approximately $250,000m police said. The RealReal is a members-only luxury goods resale chain outlet store.

A private security guard reported the burglary at around 9:15 p.m., police said.

The suspects had fled when officers arrived on the scene approximately 2 ½ minutes after the call came in, according to police.

Two suspects were arrested later that night in connection with an attempted burglary of a Palo Alto The RealReal store in a case that may be related, police said.

Palo Alto officers recovered property believed to be associated with the Larkspur burglary, police said.

“Palo Alto Police booked the two suspects in the Santa Clara County Main Jail while Detectives from the Central Marin Police continued investigating our crime to link the suspects to the burglary in Larkspur,” Central Marin Police said in a statement.

“Prior to Central Marin Police obtaining the necessary evidence to apprehend the two suspects, the suspects were released from the Santa Clara County Jail. In response, the Central Marin Police, with assistance from the Marin County District Attorney’s Office, obtained arrest warrants for the two suspects.

“As of the time of this press release the suspects are outstanding. The Central Marin Police are actively attempting to apprehend the suspects and will not release their names until they are taken into custody.”

The two agencies are collaborating in the ongoing investigation of these incidents, police said.

“With similar crimes occurring throughout the Bay Area in recent days, the Central Marin Police have stepped up patrols in retail areas throughout our jurisdiction during the day and night,” police said.

“The Central Marin Police Authority takes all retail crime very seriously and pursues its suspects to the fullest extent of the law.”