Authorities are searching for 16 suspects after an East Los Angeles AutoZone was allegedly targeted by a crowd of looters twice within 24 hours.
The group is accused of forcing its way into the auto parts store on South Atlantic Boulevard at about 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 9, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said, leaving behind substantial damage and financial losses.
Investigators believe several of the suspects may also be connected to an earlier burglary at the same AutoZone less than a day before.
That first break-in happened around 2:22 a.m. on Aug. 8, when one person allegedly shattered the store’s glass front doors before 10 others rushed inside.
Law enforcement officials characterized the incident as a “coordinated, mob-like burglary.”
Detectives had already asked the public for help identifying 11 suspects tied to the first burglary when officials announced they were also looking for 16 additional people.
The alleged smash-and-grab incidents occurred as street takeovers were taking place near Olympic and Atlantic boulevards.
Sheriff’s officials previously said spectators from the first street takeover were believed to have been involved in ransacking the AutoZone.
At a second street takeover the next night, more than 100 vehicles swarmed the intersection near the store, according to earlier reports.
Some in the crowd allegedly broke away and descended on the AutoZone, which had already been boarded up after Saturday’s looting.
Video showed people, many with their faces covered, breaking into the battered store and making off with merchandise.
Images showed shattered glass covering the front walkway, with car batteries, wiper fluid and auto accessories scattered across the floor.
At least $50,000 in merchandise and three cash registers were reportedly stolen.
Break-ins were also reported at AutoZone stores in Watts, Downey and Long Beach amid street-takeover activity across the Los Angeles area that weekend.
The East LA chaos was part of a broader weekend of disorder in which two separate street takeovers erupted into fires and looting in East Los Angeles and the Gramercy Park neighborhood.
