WATCH: Tanger Outlets shoppers attempt to keep alleged burglars inside store

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - It was anything but a typical Saturday in for Tanger Outlets shoppers. People shopping in the area of Victoria’s Secret and Perfumania around 3 p.m. most likely caught a glimpse of a true group effort.

One eyewitness was inside the Perfumania store at the time he says a group of alleged burglars made their way into the store.

“All of the sudden I hear them start yelling they saying, ‘Y’all can’t be in here,’” Preston said of the workers. “So, I turned around and I see three or four people walk in with masks, hoodies on.”

Preston, who’s last name we withheld at his request, joined the other workers in running out of the store.

That is after they locked both the front and back doors. Preston used this opportunity to get some backup at the front.

“I’ve never seen it happen before, so I was a little in shock,” Preston said. “I just was doing what I thought I should do.”

In a video taken by Preston’s mother, you can see a group of shoppers and store owners working together to keep the front door closed with the alleged suspects inside.

That video, although a bit grainy, shows what appears to be four people inside with masks and hoodies on.

“[They were] Trying to run around the store, break into the cash register, break through the glass, get all the cologne out of the shelves and stuff,” Preston said.

The group manned their “post” until Metro Nashville Police arrived 30 minutes later they say. Unfortunately by the time police got on scene, witnesses say the suspects had broken through the back of the store and escaped.

“And they [shoppers and store owners] said this happened a lot in their area, like in that mall,” Preston said. “The other people seemed really upset about it because they live in the area. They’re just upset that it happens so often.”

Even though the video stops before the alleged burglars escaped, Preston said he was told by security on scene the people had jumped the back fence and found their way to Interstate 24.

In the video WSMV4 obtained from SafetyVid.com, you’ll see a group of three people, wearing the exact color hoodies from the phone video, caught on a TDOT traffic camera just after 3 p.m.

They appear to run for about a quarter of a mile up the eastbound side of I-24 before jumping into the far right lane of traffic, getting into a car, and driving off.

Eyewitnesses say they’re not sure if any of the people were armed. They described the group as four people aged 16-20.

MNPD says while an incident report hasn’t been filed yet, they were called out around that time to the Tanger Outlets for a fight in progress outside of the Victoria’s Secret, which is next to the Perfumania store.

WSMV4 reached out to Tanger Outlets for comment and have not heard back.

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