Employees and police thwarted a group of would-be thieves who swarmed into a Macy’s store in San Jose on Saturday, and an assailant kicked one employee in the head during the fracas, authorities said.
Officers responded to a call of “an in-progress organized retail crime incident” involving “a group of up to 15 suspects, both male and female,” at the Westfield Oakridge mall around 6:10 p.m. Saturday, said a Sunday news release from the San Jose Police Department. Loss prevention employees reported that the group was stealing merchandise and trying to leave the store, the release said.
While two female loss-prevention employees tried to detain at least one person, some other group members returned and assaulted one of the employees, “pulling her hair, knocking her to the ground, and kicking her in the head,” according to the release from police spokesperson Sgt. Christian Camarillo. Camarillo told The Chronicle her injuries were “minor to moderate,” and she was treated by paramedics at the scene.
Because the attempted theft included violence, the incident was classified as strong-armed robbery, a felony, according to the release.
When the first officer arrived and helped the Macy’s employee handcuff the person, a “previously uninvolved adult female” approached “at a very close distance,” the release said. The officer ordered her to stay back and not interfere, but she refused, the release said, and when the officer tried to arrest her, “she physically resisted by swinging her arm” at the officer.
According to police, the woman was booked into Santa Clara County jail on suspicion of resisting arrest by delaying an officer in the scope of his duties, assault on a police officer and assisting the escape of a person in lawful custody of an officer. Police said they do not know whether she had any connection to the robbery suspects.
While officers were arresting her, the person the officer had tried to handcuff fled, and there were no arrests of anyone from the group, police said. More officers arrived and helped with the investigation, and more than $1,000 worth of merchandise was recovered, according to the release.
The incident came amid a string of mass retail thefts in the Bay Area that have created major challenges for law enforcement.
“This incident illustrates the challenges for police departments across the state responding to large groups of suspects during organized retail theft incidents,” Camarillo said in the news release. “Law enforcement continues to see these organized groups become more brazen, willing to use violence and carry firearms.”
Police are asking for public’s help to identify the people involved in the theft and assault on the Macy’s employee. Tips can be provided anonymously via the P3TIPS mobile app, calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP, or on www.svcrimestoppers.org.
Kellie Hwang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KellieHwang