Flash Mob Makes Off with 10 Grand in Clothes

High-End Boutique which Sells $500 Hoodies Ransacked

Police are searching for five men who robbed a high-end boutique of $10,000 worth of clothing. -Photo by NYPD

By Dan Gesslein

Manhattan Voice

May 26, 2023

MANHATTAN - A worker was thrown to the ground when a teen flash mob ransacked a high-end clothing store in the Bowery making off with $10,000 in clothes. 

According to police at around 5 pm on May 25, a group of teens entered Ava Galleria in the Bowery and began grabbing clothes off the rack. 

The high-end store is known for its $500 hoodies and $200 t-shirts.  

The six teens grabbed armfuls of clothes and attempted to leave the store without paying. A 24-year-old female employee tried to stop the shoplifters but was quickly thrown to the ground by the thieves. 

Cops said the clothing stolen is valued at $10,700.  

The employee suffered non-life-threatening injuries. She refused further medical treatment at the scene. 

One of the six suspects was later caught by police at the scene. He was identified as a 16-year-old male who has been charged with robbery. 

Police released surveillance video of the suspects seen running down the streets of the Bowery with the thousands of dollars worth of clothes.  

The remaining five suspects were seen wearing hoodies and face masks. One of the suspects did not wear a hoodie but a light blue t-shirt. He was seen wearing a face mask.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @NYPDTips. 

All calls are strictly confidential.