More than a dozen street gangs in Los Angeles have targeted wealthy residents as part of a disturbing model of violent robbery that has killed hundreds of people, police said Tuesday.
At least 17 street gangs, mostly based in south central Los Angeles, have staged more than 200 robberies with strong hands in the past 15 months, five this week, police said.
“In my 34 years at LAPD, I’ve never seen this guy [coordinated] criminal behavior, “said Captain Jonathan Tippett, head of the Home Robbery Tracking Task Force.
The criminal often uses observers to track people wearing high-end watches or driving expensive cars in the city’s luxury neighborhoods. The scammers then make collaborators follow targets to steal their jewelry, bags or cars, Tipet said.
“We have seen countless people traumatized by a gun pointed at them,” he added.
“Many others deal with injuries and injuries from hitting, kicking, beating, punching and hitting the head with a pistol.
The LAPD said at least 17 street gangs had staged more than 200 robberies with strong hands in the past 15 months. AP / Damian Dovarganes Police warn people that wearing expensive jewelry in a public place can make them a target for thieves.AP / Richard Vogel
On Monday, a woman was hit by a robber’s car when she tried to flee after they smashed her car window while stopping at a red light.
The thieves fled in her Rolex after she threw him on the street, security footage shows.
In another case, a suspect was arrested for allegedly taking two watches worth $ 600,000 from a targeted victim, authorities said.
Robberies are often violent, with some victims beaten with a pistol. AP / Damian Dovarganes
Thirteen victims have been shot dead in “home robberies” since the beginning of last year, and two of them have been killed, officials said.
According to police, many of the attacks took place in the city’s jewelry district and in the Hollywood and Wilshire departments of the LAPD.
Several dozen people have been arrested by the Task Force on Robbery, Weapons Crimes, Attempted Murder and Suspected Murder, officials said.
With postal wires
Add Comment