Smoke Shop Burglary in Los Angeles Goes Awry as Owner Confronts Intruders
A group of individuals attempted to break into a smoke shop in the Arleta neighborhood of Los Angeles, unaware that the owner and an employee were still present inside the store.
Surveillance cameras at CoCo ToBaCCo on Osborne Street captured the incident early Tuesday morning and the footage was shared with KTLA.
A video captured outside the shop reveals the suspects strategically parking a getaway car in the driveway of the shop’s parking lot. They then proceeded to forcefully crash a stolen vehicle into the store, causing significant damage to the security gate and front door.
An unexpected encounter awaited the initial suspect as they stepped into the store, catching them off guard in the presence of the two individuals already inside.
A loud shout of “Get out” pierces the air, prompting either the owner or employee to swiftly hurl a mop wringer at the suspect. Startled, the suspect retreats and hastily flees the store, while the second man makes his appearance.
Upon exiting, the suspect can be heard shouting, “Somebody’s in there.”
A group of approximately four individuals swiftly moves around the parking lot, with one of them quickly entering the black getaway vehicle and swiftly driving off.
A second individual, spotted donning a light-colored hoodie and jeans, encountered some difficulty while attempting to escape, stumbling on two separate occasions.
Officers at the scene were heard shouting “Hands up.”
Shortly after, a video captured by freelance media firm KNN emerged, showing a man wearing a light-colored hoodie and jeans being apprehended by authorities.
Authorities have confirmed that two individuals are now in police custody, with one of them being hospitalized after crashing into the business.
The store suffered significant damage, resulting in repair costs estimated to exceed $20,000 according to the owner.
A fundraising campaign has been initiated to assist the owner in managing their expenses.
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