Smash-and-grab crew steals tools from Lakewood Home Depot: Sheriff's Department

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Local News

Smash-and-grab crew steals tools from Lakewood Home Depot: Sheriff’s Department

by: KTLA Digital Staff, Gil Leyvas, additional reporting by Matt Phillips

Posted: Nov 26, 2021 / 09:00 PM PST / Updated: Nov 26, 2021 / 11:42 PM PST

A Home Depot in Lakewood was the site of the newest smash-and-grab theft in Los Angeles County Friday night, and it appears the thieves stole tools that could be used for future crimes, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

At about 7:45 p.m., eight or nine young men entered Home Depot, located at 5000 Hardwick St., and stole multiple hammers, crowbars, wrenches and other tools before fleeing into waiting vehicles, according to Detective Collinsworth of the Sheriff’s Department.

The tools totaled about $400 in value and it is believed the thieves fled into “a red in color Mercedes Benz with severe damage to the front of the vehicle,” the Sheriff’s Department added in a release. ... Detectives are on scene investigating the theft and reviewing security footage, Collinsworth added.

Luis Romo, a Home Depot employee, said he saw somewhere between 18 and 22 thieves enter the store together. ... “They had the sledgehammers ready to hit people who were trying to stop them,” Romo said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Lakewood Station at 562-623-3500. ... To submit information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit lacrimestoppers.org.

[Sherman A1]

1. I suspect that these tools will be used later for

Another smash and grab at some high end retailers.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. In addition to threatening anybody who gets in their way.

There's a shopping mall in northern Virginia across the Interstate from the Pentagon called Pentagon City. It used to be a frequent site for smash and grabs. Snatch the stuff and get on I-395 instantly. In a few minutes, you're in DC. There's no time for Arlington (County, Virginia) to respond.

Good morning, in spite of this.

[2naSalit]

3. While reading the post...

A flash-thought happened. And it leaves me then wondering about a few things.

These are clearly organized troupes of thieves but they have a militant element to them. They have specific items they want and take and they, for the most part, are getting away with it so far. Where do they come from? They seem to know the stores well. Are these the arrant public servants who have also been trained? I wonder where the connection originates that brings these folks to carry out these raids. That they act as terrorists taking over a village (a mall?) in such a way, when will they start doing that in anytown, usa in broad daylight and often? And is this a big network that will soon be a regular feature in the breakdown of society? There's something more than just robbery going on here and the root better be found and extinguished quickly.

That's how that works. I suddenly had all that pass through my head in the time it took to click on the link to the OP. Any questions?