On a typical Sunday afternoon, a group of hooded youths executed a shocking and brazen heist at an Apple store located in the bustling Brent Cross shopping center in North London.
The scene quickly turned chaotic as eight individuals, all dressed in black, stormed the store, leaving customers in fear.
Chaos Unfolds
The terrifying moment unfolded as a sea of shoppers, including families with young children, scrambled to escape the store.
Within seconds, the gang seized high-end devices, taking advantage of the crowded environment.
Witnesses described seeing people fleeing for their safety while the thieves grabbed the expensive gadgets on display.
Incredibly, the whole robbery lasted only 24 seconds.
By the time it was over, the group had swept through the store, grabbed what they could, and fled before the authorities could respond.
A Quick Arrest
Metropolitan Police officers quickly made their way to the scene, arresting six young males, aged 14 to 18, on suspicion of robbery.
This incident highlights the ongoing issue of shoplifting plaguing businesses across the UK, with police reporting a staggering £15 million in stolen goods over the past year alone.
The Footage of the Heist
The viral footage of the robbery shows an Apple security guard attempting to stop one of the thieves from entering the store.
While he focuses on the first culprit, the rest of the gang rushes inside, shoving bystanders and sending customers fleeing toward the back of the store.
Parents are seen quickly picking up their children and running for the exits as the thieves descend on the merchandise.
Within moments, the group exits with stolen phones in hand, while store staff, including a security guard, attempt to halt the thieves.
In the chaos, one of the thieves dropped a phone, which was left behind on the shopping center floor.
The Aftermath
The footage quickly circulated on social media, with many condemning the robbers for their actions.
With Brent Cross shopping center being home to 120 shops and attracting millions of visitors annually, this robbery marks yet another reminder of the rising crime rates and the pressure authorities face to tackle this ongoing problem.
A police spokesperson confirmed that arrests were made shortly after the crime, and the teenagers remain in custody for further questioning.
As investigations continue, the public eagerly awaits more details about how these young thieves were apprehended so swiftly.