Smash-and-grab robbery at Pentagon City mall leads to panic and large police response

A robbery at the Pentagon City mall Sunday afternoon caused a panic that sent shoppers fleeing and prompted a massive police response.

The incident started around 3:30 p.m. after Arlington County police received multiple reports of shots fired and smoke seen inside the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City. Arriving officers found people running from the mall and broken glass in front of the Tourneau watch and jewelry store.

Officers were also told that a high level federal official was shopping at the mall at the time and was being evacuated from the Macy’s store by their protective detail.

As the chaos abated, an initial investigation found that the sound of shots fired was actually the suspects using sledgehammers to smash display cases. The smoke, meanwhile, was from a fire extinguisher they used during the robbery.

“I’m at Pentagon City and just heard several gunshots,” one witness told ARLnow, before it was determined that no shots were fired. “Everyone was running. I’m in the sneaker store on the 3rd floor… and isolated so no idea if the police are massing.”

“That’s enough of an adrenaline rush for one day,” a woman walking out of mall to the parking garage told an ARLnow reporter later. “I’m outta here.”

So far, there are no reports of injuries. The suspects — described as three males in their teens — fled on foot and were still at large, according to police. As of 4:30 p.m., security guards told shoppers that the mall was closed for the day.

Virginia State Police responded to the scene to assist Arlington County units.

The robbery coincidentally happened shortly after a separate incident prompted a large police response in the area. D.C. police, Pentagon police and Arlington County police converged on the Pentagon to take three suspects in an armed carjacking in the District into custody.

James Cullum contributed to this report