Local : Clothing Slashed; Suspect Probed

Los Angeles police are investigating a man suspected of using a razor to slash clothing valued at more than $20,000 at several San Fernando Valley department stores.

Augusto Guzman, 38, whose address is unknown, was arrested Saturday on suspicion of felony vandalism after security guards at Robinson’s department store in the Northridge Fashion Center saw him cut several men’s suits with a razor, Detective Cecil Mixson said.

Mixson said 42 items, including dresses, jackets, shirts and suits worth $8,400, were damaged by slashing at the store.

The Broadway department store in the same mall reported the same day that 29 men’s suits and 18 leather jackets worth $16,622 were slashed with razors. Mixson said he was investigating Guzman’s possible involvement in that case and similar incidents a few days earlier at the Broadway at the Topanga Plaza shopping center in Woodland Hills and other clothing stores in North Hollywood.

Mixson said Guzman refused to talk to police and was released after posting $5,000 bail. Mixson said he will take evidence in the case to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office later this week.