Thieves Crashed Into LA Sneaker Resale Shop Syndicate and Cleared Out the Inventory

Published

Quick Facts

  • Sneaker resale shop Syndicate LA posted on Instagram early Wednesday morning to report a destructive break-in at the shop that smashed the entire street-facing facade of the store and cleared out the inventory
  • In a video posted to Instagram from the security cameras inside the store, you can see a white car back straight through the protective gate and glass storefront, shattering the floor-to-ceiling windows immediately
  • As soon as the car smashed into the front, it drove back out onto the street, and a swarm of masked thieves ran into the shop
  • It’s not clear if the robbery mainly targeted clothing or if they were able to access the back stockroom to take off with matched pairs of sneakers as well
Syndicate Los Angeles Robbed
Syndicate Los Angeles Robbed

Sneaker resale shop Syndicate LA posted on Instagram early Wednesday morning to report a destructive break-in at the shop that smashed the entire street-facing facade of the store and cleared out the inventory.

In a video posted to Instagram from the security cameras inside the store, you can see a white car back straight through the protective gate and glass storefront, shattering the floor-to-ceiling windows immediately. As soon as the car smashed into the front, it drove back out onto the street, and a swarm of masked thieves ran into the shop. They then laid a tarp down on the ground and quickly started emptying clothing racks onto the tarp, folding it up and running out with the merchandise inside when the racks were empty. It’s not clear if the robbery mainly targeted clothing or if they were able to access the back stockroom to take off with matched pairs of sneakers as well.

The sneaker resale game is in a tough spot these days. After months of viral videos from resellers talking about how the falling market for Air Jordan retros, SB Dunks, and other previously hyped silhouettes is making it hard for the plethora of resale storefronts to make ends meet. Syndicate Los Angeles stood out from that pack. The resale shop that opened in Downtown LA’s Chinatown in 2021 has made a name for itself with reliable stock and constant media presence, including a podcast.

In the aftermath of the break-in, Syndicate Los Angeles told its Instagram followers, “We will be back thank you for the continued support!” For all the latest sneaker industry news, download the Sole Retriever mobile app.

Zach Harris is a writer based in Philadelphia. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Vice, Complex, High Times, and more. He is obsessed with skateboarding and bowling. He is still looking for his first 300. For tips, reviews, and anything in size 10.5 - zach.h@soleretriever.com