Walnut Creek, CA — Walnut Creek police detained four juveniles Tuesday afternoon after a reported grab-and-run at the Lululemon in Broadway Plaza.
Officers say the group allegedly sprinted into the store around 1:45 p.m., grabbed merchandise, and ran — but responding units arrived within minutes and detained the suspects nearby. Police recovered additional items tied to other Broadway Plaza retailers, with the total value in the thousands, the department told CBS News.
What happened
Police received a 1:45 p.m. call for a group of juveniles who rushed the Lululemon sales floor, allegedly took merchandise, and fled. Officers quickly located and detained four minors and recovered stolen goods believed to be from multiple Broadway Plaza stores. No injuries were immediately reported. Names are being withheld because the suspects are juveniles.
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Where it happened
The incident centered on the Lululemon at Broadway Plaza — a high-end, open-air shopping center in downtown Walnut Creek that has been repeatedly targeted by retail thieves over the years.
Why it matters
Broadway Plaza has seen periodic organized theft activity, including prior Lululemon theft cases and coordinated retail crime that prompted stepped-up enforcement. In 2023, Walnut Creek police arrested suspects tied to a multi-store Lululemon theft ring, and the plaza was also the site of the 2021 Nordstrom flash-mob robbery that drew statewide attention.
What police say comes next
Walnut Creek PD has not yet released case numbers or charging details for Tuesday’s detentions. Because the suspects are juveniles, any potential charges will proceed through the juvenile system. Anyone with information can contact Walnut Creek Police at the non-emergency line or leave an anonymous tip at 925-943-5865.
The bigger picture
Police and retailers at Broadway Plaza have coordinated on loss-prevention strategies in recent years — from more visible patrols and plaza-specific officers to rapid communication with store staff — part of a broader regional push to deter organized retail thefts.
