Looters Ransack Macy's, Manhattan Businesses Despite Curfew

NEW YORK, NY — Looters plundered Manhattan businesses — including the Macy's Herald Square flagship — for the second consecutive night Monday despite the city instituting a curfew to cut down on criminal taking advantage of mass protests against police brutality in the wake of the police killing of Minneapolis man George Floyd.

Groups of looters began tearing down plywood barriers and breaking the windows at the Macy's flagship on 34th Street just before the 11 p.m. curfew on Monday night, according to a video taken by witnesses at the scene. Dozens of people streamed into the famed department store as a small fire broke out on the sidewalk.

Police officers followed looters into the Macy's flagship after arriving at the store and arrested three people, the New York Post's Joe Marino reported from the scene.

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Looting was widespread in Midtown Manhattan and other retail districts in the borough, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said during an NY1 interview just before the 11 p.m. curfew hit.

"In Midtown, where I am – I'm on Madison Avenue right now, unquestionably, there's a real problem here. This had not been a focal point previously. There’s been a real problem here at night. Huge amount of police presence has been surged into this area and that’s starting to obviously turn the tide. I’m seeing vast numbers of police here. And we will contain the situation. Obviously, the curfew hits now in just over an hour. But, again, we're going to take the next step strategically in light of what we've seen here," de Blasio said.

Among stores targeted were Michael Kors, Footlocker, Nike, Microsoft, several phone outlets and small businesses such as liquor stores, souvenir stores and smoke shops. Nearly 700 people were arrested in protests citywide on Monday night, police said.

Monday's curfew was put in place after many luxury stores in Soho, including Chanel, Gucci and Bloomingdales, were ransacked late Sunday. NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea estimated more than 400 people had been arrested that night alone.

De Blasio characterized the looting as "a small situation with a small number of people doing looting, trying to take advantage of what they see around the country and this moment," during his interview with NY 1. New York City's curfew will be extended to Tuesday, but will be moved to 8 p.m. in an effort to get people off the streets earlier and cut down on looting.

Protests moved through the city, with largely peaceful crowds being seen on Madison and Lexington avenues, Times Square, Washington Square Park and in Bed-Stuy, among other locations. The demonstrations have been held every night since Thursday as people voiced fury at the death of George Floyd at the hands of cops in Minnesota on Memorial Day.