Thieves emptied out a Louis Vuitton store in San Francisco’s Union Square shopping district Friday during a night that was expected to bring protests and riots nationwide following the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse.
Police apprehended six suspects trying to flee the ransacked store, which had windows broken and much of its inventory taken, according to KTVU. Footage of several people fleeing the scene carrying merchandise emerged on Twitter after 8 p.m., while others got away in cars, the outlet added.
SHOPLIFTERS PACK CARS WITH $1600 IN STOLEN GROCERIES IN BROAD DAYLIGHT
Police Supervisor Aaron Peskin said there were no injuries in the arrests.
While it is unclear whether the looting was related to the Rittenhouse verdict, which came down earlier that day, the upscale shopping area was heavily damaged by looters and rioters during the 2020 demonstrations protesting the death of George Floyd.
Following an emotional trial and three and a half days of jury deliberation, Rittenhouse, 18, was found not guilty on five counts related to the fatal shootings of two men during a 2020 riot in Kenosha, Wisconsin. While supporters saw the verdict as a victory for the right to self-defense, opponents argued that the decision “protects white supremacy,” with some vowing to protest or riot Friday night.
Some have suggested urban dwellers should consider accepting crime “as a part of city living.” The San Francisco Chronicle was criticized earlier this month for questioning whether residents should “tolerate” burglaries as the city sees a rise in violent crime.
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San Francisco has seen 1,964 robberies and 2,067 assaults so far this year as of Sunday, compared with 2,066 robberies and 1,902 assaults from Jan. 1 through Nov. 14, 2020, according to the San Francisco Police Department.
Representatives for the SFPD and Louis Vuitton did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s requests for comment.
