Smash and Grab Robbers Targeting Broadway Gold
Courtesy LAPD
Suspects flee after a "smash-and-grab" robbery at a Broadway jewelry store this month.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Summer and high gold prices are combining to make Broadway's jewelry shops an attractive target for "smash-and-grab" robbers, but LAPD hopes a stepped-up attention on the street will dissuade would-be bandits.
Six similar robberies have occurred along Broadway since June 21. In each, a group of four to five suspects rush a store, smashing display cases and grabbing what they can before fleeing to a waiting car.
LAPD has made arrests in three of the six robberies, most recently collaring the 17-year-old from South L.A. who is seen wielding a hammer in the video below. Witnesses of that robbery at the Guadalajara Jewelry Plaza on July 12 wrote down the license plate number of the black BMW used for the gang's getaway, and police found the man inside the vehicle a short time later. In the car was a cloth bag containing hammers.
“With the price of gold now at $1,600 an ounce, gang members have seen the benefit in taking the risk,” explained Lt. Paul Vernon of LAPD's Central Division. “We’ve been in contact with a half dozen other agencies from Riverside to Ventura counties that have experienced similar robberies by the same type of suspects: groups of four to five Black gang members, between 17 and 30 years old.”
On July 6, police got the jump on four suspects as they were casing another Broadway shop. “We were able to show a conspiracy to commit robbery among 4 men after officers saw them casing stores," said Lt. Vernon.
Police hope word of their arrests dissuades potential robbers, and that the public might be able to help them identify suspects in the cases that remain outstanding. Anyone with information is asked to call Central Detectives at 213-972-1245.
downtown vibe on July 19, 2011, at 01:28PM – #1
Eric,
This is the first I've heard of this. Did the LAPD make this public before now, or were they keeping this quiet?
Lt Paul Vernon on July 19, 2011, at 02:51PM – #2
No, we (PD) were not keeping this quite at all. We have spoken with all the merchants along Broadway and Hill Street. When ever we've had suspects at large and video worth releasing, we have done so. That is why we have made so many ID's and arrested so many of the suspects so far, just as we did last year.
It was educating the merchants and even the patrol officers that led to us arresting too different groups of robbers before they struck. Actually, we detained and ID'd one group, but were able to put a charge on another group of 4 for conspiracy. In that case, they had paper covering their license plates, wearing clothing not in keeping with the weather, 4 men in one car in the middle of the day, and when we stopped them, pepper spray for bears. Hmmm...can't tell you the last time I saw a bear downtown.
We've received several tips from the public about these robbery crews, as we did last year too.
downtown vibe on July 20, 2011, at 11:13AM – #3
I spend a lot of time on Broadway and this is what I can tell you.
After dark their is a huge number of people loitering in front of businesses and virtually NO LAPD presence. For a very long time drug dealers wer selling prescription drugs directly in front of the Rite Aide drugstore in broad daylight. Again NO LAPD in sight.
I've seen people pull to the side of Broadway on Sunday afternoon, get out and show off the contents of their trunk... then drive away, while their new friends walk in the other direction.
The only time I did see LAPD in action was when I walked by two officers harrassing a homeless woman sleeping under a theater marquee. They had three giggling girls standing next to the patrol car. I turned around when I heard one of the officers say "Why don't you show us the fucking receipt?"... While they were laughing at the woman on the sidewalk. They stopped laughing when they realized I had heard them.
I have reasons for questioning the "spin" coming from Central Division.
Lt. Vernon is the one who keeps the LAPD form getting sued. Keeping the public "informed" is not his main concern.