In another incident of a large group of thieves looting a 7-Eleven store, Los Angeles City Councilman Tim McOsker has called on the city government to provide more police presence and other security support.
According to reports from the city news agency, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officials revealed that the latest crime occurred last Saturday (24th) around 1:40 in the morning, when the police received multiple reports of a disturbance at a 7-Eleven convenience store at the intersection of Gaffey Street and 1st Street in San Pedro.
Upon arrival, officers found the convenience store had been looted, with multiple items stolen. The duty commander stated that the suspects had fled the scene before the officers arrived. Currently, the police have no information on the suspects.
Margaret Stewart, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department, stated that paramedics were dispatched to the 700 block of West 1st Street at 1:38 in the morning for a shooting incident, which was later canceled by the LAPD.
ABC7 reported that approximately 30 to 50 people attacked the store, knocking down shelves and stealing about $40,000 worth of merchandise, including cigarettes and thousands of dollars’ worth of lottery tickets.
Councilman McOsker expressed that incidents like the large group looting the 7-Eleven store on the 24th have become a recurring pattern in Los Angeles. It is not just a matter of property loss or stolen items but also involves victims, employees, and communities experiencing fear.
McOsker believes that an expansion of police force is necessary to better address these sudden crimes. “These events are becoming more and more common, which is deeply concerning. We need to allocate more resources to our 911 response and expand the manpower of the LAPD,” he said. “We could have prevented the situation from escalating before our streets were taken over. This is why we need to expedite the recruitment of the LAPD. Our officers must be able to respond quickly to prevent these incidents.”
It is currently unclear whether the thieves who looted the San Pedro store are also connected to the previous robbery cases at 7-Eleven stores in the Hollywood area.
On August 16th, within a few minutes, three robberies targeting 7-Eleven stores occurred in the Hollywood area, where a large group of teenagers stole items from the stores, vandalized the premises, and ultimately escaped on bicycles.
On August 9th, a 7-Eleven store in the 8500 block of Olympic Blvd near Beverly Hills was looted by 50 young people, stealing cigarettes and other goods before fleeing on bicycles.
At present, no suspects in these robbery cases have been arrested.
The Los Angeles Police Department urges the public to report any relevant information on the robberies by calling 877-527-3247. Those who wish to provide information anonymously can call 800-222-8477 or visit www.lacrimestoppers.org to provide tips.