Another AutoZone store in Los Angeles was looted on Monday, marking the latest in a series of retail thefts targeting the automotive parts chain in the region. The incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. at a location on Central Avenue in South Los Angeles, following an alleged street takeover during which vehicles blocked an intersection and two individuals were taken into custody, according to reports.
The number of looters involved in the Monday burglary remains unclear as the Los Angeles Police Department investigates. This latest incident follows a pattern of organized theft that has recently hit AutoZone stores.
Earlier this month, an AutoZone in East Los Angeles was reportedly targeted by a group of 27 individuals who ransacked the store twice within a single day. The first raid saw 11 suspects enter the store after the glass entrance was allegedly smashed. The following day, an additional 16 suspects reportedly carried out a second burglary at the same location.
These two raids in East Los Angeles are alleged to have resulted in the theft of at least $50,000 in merchandise and three cash registers. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department released surveillance images of both groups of suspects and requested public assistance in identifying them. Investigators believe the suspects involved in the second East Los Angeles burglary may have also participated in the first, which occurred during a street takeover near Olympic and Atlantic boulevards. The second incident reportedly took place amidst a street takeover involving more than 100 vehicles.
Reports also indicate that AutoZone stores in other Los Angeles County areas, including Watts, Downey, and Long Beach, were subjected to break-ins during the same weekend as the back-to-back East Los Angeles incidents. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has been seeking the public's help in identifying suspects involved in these coordinated looting events.