Dozens of people broke into and looted AutoZone stores in East Los Angeles and South Los Angeles after street takeovers over the weekend, authorities said.
Incidents Reported
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said it happened twice at the same store in East LA and once at a South LA location. Video from witnesses shows a group of people bashing the windows at an AutoZone at Imperial Highway and Central Avenue in South LA around 4 a.m. Sunday.
“I had just come for some car parts, and I just figured out that I can’t buy anything today because it’s all destroyed,” South LA resident Juan Batts said.
In East LA, the AutoZone store at Olympic Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue was looted twice this weekend after street takeovers on Saturday and Sunday morning, according to the sheriff’s department.
The LASD said about 100 people were involved in the street takeover that occurred at around 3:30 a.m. Sunday, with some ransacking the business and stealing items.
People who live in the neighborhoods say the takeovers are frustrating, leaving these shops closed for repairs and putting their communities on edge.
“It’s just absolutely wicked and crazy that somebody would want to come and mess with hardworking people,” Batts said.
Officials said no arrests have been made as of Sunday morning.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
