A mob of over a dozen migrants stormed Bloomingdale’s over the weekend and tried to steal around $5,000 worth of designer sunglasses – before all but one escaped.
The shoplifters swarmed the flagship store at 1000 Third Avenue in Manhattan Saturday evening, a New York Police Department spokesperson told Dailymail.com.
The robbers were attempting to conceal the items by hiding them on their person as they tried to leave, the spokesman added.
Security attempted to stop the culprits to recover the items and a scuffle broke out.
One of the suspects allegedly shoved a security guard and someone was struck in the head with a closed fist.
A mob of over a dozen migrants flooded into the flagship Bloomingdale’s location in Midtown Manhattan on Saturday, stealing around $5,000 worth of designer sunglasses
When security attempted to stop the robbers, a scuffle broke out, leading to one guard being shoved and someone else being punched in the head
Stiven Matos, 22, was arrested at the scene. While the NYPD declined to comment on the burglars’ immigration status, Matos did not provide an address at the time of his arrest (pictured: migrants wait outside a re-intake center in Manhattan)
Police arrested 22-year-old Stiven Matos at the scene following a struggle. At least 14 other people remain at large.
Matos was charged with robbery, criminal possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration.
A 27-year-old male was also involved in the brawl, but it is unclear from the report if he was one of the suspects or an employee, the spokesman said.
The New York Post characterized the shoplifters as ‘migrants,’ but NYPD declined to comment on their immigration status.
The spokesman shared that Matos did not provide an address at the time of his arrest.
The amount of merchandise stolen amounted to around $5,000, police say.
Authorities recovered 10 pairs of Versace sunglasses, two pairs of Prada glasses and one pair of Christian Dior specs, the New York Post reported.
A spokesperson for Bloomingdale’s said the store is unable to comment on ongoing investigations and crime scenes.
As of December 2023, more than 140,000 migrants had flooded into New York City over an 18-month period
Also on Saturday, a fight broke out among a crowd of 300 undocumented people who were waiting outside a re-intake shelter in the East Village (pictured)
Mayor Eric Adams has called on the White House to deliver federal support to manage the national asylum seeker crisis
The city filed a lawsuit against 17 charter bus companies for not complying with a new bill (pictured: dozens of migrants are seen arriving from Texas at the Port Authority Bus Terminal)
Grand larceny reports in Manhattan’s 19th precinct, where the store is located, fell 0.6 percent in 2023, according to the NYP.
The department received 1,727 complaints over the past year, compared to 1,737 reports in 2022.
As of December 2023, more than 140,000 migrants had flooded into New York City over an 18-month period.
Also on Saturday, a fight broke out among a crowd of 300 undocumented people who were waiting outside a re-intake shelter in the East Village.
A man tried to cut in front of the line and spilled coffee on others before he was confronted by another man and an argument turned physical.
Two police officers were injured amid the scuffle and two men were arrested.
Mayor Eric Adams has called on the White House to deliver federal support to manage the national asylum seeker crisis.
Last month, Adams issued Executive Order 538, requiring improved coordination from charter bus companies transporting migrants arrivals into the city.
The measure was designed to ensure ‘the safety and well-being of both migrants and city staff receiving them,’ according to a press release.
On Wednesday, the city filed a lawsuit against 17 charter bus companies from Texas, Louisiana, Ohio and Indiana, seeking $708 million in damages.
The lawsuit demands funds to cover the care for more than 30,000 asylum seekers who have arrived since 2022.
‘Not one bus from Texas’ has complied with the bill, Adams’ chief counsel Lisa Zornberg said.
