It's the end of times when we even think of entertaining using "caution" when referring to the term "looting" at the Bay Area smash and grabs.
What's happening in the Bay Area is the very definition of looting.
What else are we supposed to call it? Low-life assholes having tantrums?
Looting is reserved for when mobs steal from local homes and businesses in conjunction with another action: protest, riot, march, concert, etc.
When people go somewhere with no other reason in mind besides stealing, and they have with them weapons (guns, knives, crowbars, tire irons, bricks, ...), it's called armed robbery.
So, for the Nordstrom, Neman-Marcus and Vuitton robberies, I agree they were not technically "looting." But not because the term has anything to do with race.