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WASHINGTON - The search is on for a group of teen robbery suspects who leave their victims bloodied and beaten.
The teen bandits, all teenage girls, have targeted stores such as the RUE 14 Boutique on 14th Street.
A store surveillance video shows the group of girls in the 14th Street boutique. They spread out and mill around for about an hour, filling their arms with clothing until the store owner tries to take the merchandise to the register. But instead of heading to the register they signal their other group members, take their loot and run for the exit. Meanwhile, one of the girls stays behind to make sure the owner doesn't catch up with the others. The girl comes up behind the owner drags her out the door, clawing and beating her.
"They are very young. They definitely not afraid. They had a plan; they had a getaway car outside," said Jiwon Paik-Nguyan, Owner of Rue 14.
Paik-Nguyen just opened the store a few months ago, and did so with high hopes for success even in a down economy. In fact, she and her employees expected the locals to welcome a chic shopping option.
"It's frightening and you never know when these things are going to escalate into violence," said Emily Egan, Rue 14 clerk.
The Rue 14 robbery and assault happened weeks ago, but a few days a ago a similar scenario played out at a store just a few doors away. It is unclear whether it's the same girls, but one thing business owners in the area do know is there have been a spike in brazen robberies.
Police say, despite the surveillance footage, they have no leads or suspects at this time
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