Businesses on 5th and Madison avenues were spotted putting up plywood to prevent looting. However, that didn't stop the looters from breaking in and grabbing what they wanted from the luxury stores.
Roving groups of people smashing their way into shops and emptying them of merchandise. The doors of Macy's flagship Manhattan store were breached. Police pulled two handcuffed men out and put them in a van.
People rushed into a Nike store and carried out armloads of clothing. Near Rockefeller Center, storefront windows were smashed and multiple people arrested. Bank windows were smashed. Wreckage littered the inside of an AT&T store.
Video posted on social media showed some protesters arguing with people breaking windows, urging them to stop, but instances of vandalism and smash-and-grab thefts mounted as the night deepened.
"We worked hard to build up the business, and within a second, someone does this," said the owner of a ransacked Manhattan smoke shop, who identified himself only by the name Harri. "Really bad."
Looters clashed with police as vandals smashed into a boutique tea shop in the middle of Rockefeller Center.
Police could be seen there tackling a man to the ground. More than 200 people were arrested around the city.
#BREAKING: #looting has started on Madison Avenue. At least one store hit. Very tense scene with huge @NYPD19Pct presence. #abc7ny pic.twitter.com/yugmc4xI1P
— Josh Einiger (@JoshEiniger7) June 2, 2020
The looting continued further downtown where looters were caught on camera breaking into a Nordstrom Rack at Union Square.
A few moments later, windows broken, neighbouring stores looted and then a frighteningly loud bang from a firework.
— Joel Labi (@JoelLabi) June 2, 2020
No placards, no chants, just an eye on destruction. The looters are back in Union Square - this is no longer a protest here. #NYCPROTEST pic.twitter.com/H8IfVRgQ97
Amid the chaos all before the 11 p.m. curfew set in, Mayor Bill de Blasio's office announced Tuesday's curfew would start at 8 p.m.
"These protests have power and meaning. But as the night wears on we are seeing groups use them to incite violence and destroy property," de Blasio said.
These protests have power and meaning. But as the night wears on we are seeing groups use them to incite violence and destroy property.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) June 2, 2020
Our first priority is keeping people safe, so I’m extending the curfew to Tuesday. It will begin at 8pm.
Another video showed a group of men beating a police officer who was alone and down on the ground, smashing him with pieces of wreckage until he pulled his gun and they ran.
After the curfew took effect, police moved more actively to clear the streets, chasing after and knocking down some people who wouldn't comply as they streamed toward Times Square
Hundreds were arrested into the early morning hours Monday as protesters moved from Downtown Brooklyn and Midtown into SoHo, where numerous stores were looted.
High-end stores like Bloomingdales, Gucci, Nike Soho, Chanel, Tory Burch, Kate Spade were all vandalized. Best Buy in Union Square and several drug stores were also hit.
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