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Los Angeles prosecutors hit four shops with criminal charges for refusing to close during the shutdown orders imposed to slow the spread of the coronavirus, according to a report.

The move marks the first time the city has filed charges against stores for violating the “Safer at Home” order requiring “non-essential” businesses to close during the pandemic, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The stores — two smoke shops, a shoe store, and a discount electronics shop — were deemed non-essential by the order, the outlet said. The shops were charged Friday.

Mayor Eric Garcetti’s said the stores were putting people’s health at risk as they repeatedly refused to close their doors.

At one store, police officers were told, “‘Forget you’ — probably not in as nice words — ‘we’re not going to do it,'” the mayor said, according to the outlet.

“We want to let people know that we are serious about this, that businesses that flagrantly violate this will be shut down short-term and prosecuted in the medium term as well,” Garcetti warned, saying the Department of Water and Power could potentially cut off service to shops refusing to shut down.

Only essential businesses – healthcare providers, organizations serving vulnerable populations and grocery stores – can stay open during the COVID-19 emergency, LA City Attorney Mike Feuer said.

“We’re all safer at home. Nonessential businesses remaining open at this time jeopardize public health and safety, and my office is committed to vigorously enforcing the mayor’s order.”