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Long Beach businesses continually targeted in destructive thefts

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Long Beach businesses continually targeted in destructive thefts

Residents are on edge after a string of destructive burglaries continues targeting Long Beach businesses.

Surveillance video captured the moment a hooded suspect smashed their way into a restaurant and escaped with the cash register.

The break-in occurred on Sept. 30 at Speak Cheezy pizzeria in the Belmont Heights neighborhood just after midnight.

The owner, Jason Winters, believes the brazen theft was premeditated.

“It was very quick,” Winters said. “He didn’t go any deeper than the register. He knew exactly what he was going for.”

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Winters said luckily the cash register was empty, but the costs to repair the destruction left behind will be expensive.

  • The suspect yanks the cash register off the counter at Speak Cheezy in Long Beach on Sept. 30, 2024. (Speak Cheesy)
  • The hooded suspect seen walking towards Speak Cheesy on Sept. 30, 2024. (Speak Cheesy)
  • In January 2023, Speak Cheesy was burglarized by a hooded suspect with a crowbar. (Speak Cheesy)
  • Next door, the Ambiance Skin Care & Day Spa remains boarded up after burglars targeted the business twice in a six-week period. (KTLA)
  • A burglar smashes his way in to Speak Cheezy in Long Beach and escapes with the cash register on Sept. 30, 2024. (Speak Cheesy)
  • The suspects escapes with the cash register at Speak Cheezy in Long Beach on Sept. 30, 2024. (Speak Cheesy)

“We are probably talking $1,500 to $2,000 in damages for the door, cash register, point of sale system,” he said.

Winters also noted the recent burglary wasn’t the first time his pizzeria was targeted.

In January 2023, another suspect broke in using a crowbar and escaped with the restaurant’s safe from the basement, resulting in a $5,000 loss.

Winters said the uptick in destructive burglaries is hard on small business owners and even worse, it seems to be affecting more shop owners nowadays.

“It’s disheartening, like the fact that this isn’t just [affecting] me,” Winters said.

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The shop next door, Ambiance Skin Care & Day Spa, was burglarized twice in a six-week period and is still recovering from the destruction left behind.

Local business owners are frustrated with the ongoing crime while also worried their store may be targeted next.

Many said they would like to see harsher penalties for smash-and-grab burglaries, hoping stricter consequences will deter thieves before a future confrontation turns violent or even deadly.

“More repercussions for people who are doing this, if they did get caught,” Winters said. “He took off on a bike and there was probably a getaway car. He knew exactly what he was doing.”

The suspect remains at large. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the Long Beach Police Department at 562-570-7260.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Vehicle, 2 occupants plunge into crowded Southern California harbor

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Vehicle, 2 occupants plunge into crowded Southern California harbor

Two people were taken to the hospital after a vehicle they were inside plunged into the harbor Sunday night in Marina Del Rey, officials confirmed to KTLA.  

Details are limited and It’s unclear exactly how the incident occurred, but authorities with the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to 4675 Admiralty Way just after 6 p.m. on reports of the vehicle in the water.  

L.A. County Fire Department Public Information Officer Marco Rodriguez said the two occupants were able to get themselves out of the vehicle after it went into the water.  

Both were examined by medical personnel with the fire department and taken to a nearby hospital in unknown condition.  

Rodriguez said that two L.A. County Lifeguard divers were deployed to ensure there were no other occupants trapped in the vehicle.  

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  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor
  • Car into Marina del Rey harbor

A witness, Johnny Hamcheck, told KTLA that a third person, a woman, exited the vehicle before it went into water, though officials did not confirm that detail.  

Footage of the recovery effort showed crews attaching large yellow floating devices to the vehicle as it was anchored to a crane and eventually pulled out of the water and loaded onto a tow truck.  

The vehicle showed heavy front-end damage, presumably from crashing through the steel railing and into the water.  

An investigation into the crash is ongoing and no further details were provided.  

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Los Angeles, Ca

Armed robbers hit couple in broad daylight on high-end Beverly Hills street

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Armed robbers hit couple in broad daylight on high-end Beverly Hills street

Two people were hospitalized after a broad daylight armed robbery on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills Sunday, police confirmed to KTLA.  

Officers with the Beverly Hills Police Department responded to the 400 block of North Rodeo Drive, at the intersection of Brighton Way just before 1:30 p.m. on reports of the incident.  

According to a BHPD news release, a man and a woman were waiting outside a boutique when they were approached by four suspects, one of whom pulled out a gun during a physical altercation between the victims and the suspects.  

“During the altercation, the suspects forcibly took two designer handbags – one from each victim – containing cash and cellphones,” police said. “One cellphone was recovered nearby. The suspects also attempted to steal the male victim’s jewelry but were unsuccessful.”  

  • Beverly Hills armed robbery
  • Beverly Hills armed robbery
  • Beverly Hills armed robbery
  • Beverly Hills armed robbery

In video of a portion of the incident obtained by KTLA, four suspects all wearing dark clothing and hooded sweatshirts can be seen running from the scene. At least one of the suspects has an item, possibly one of the handbags, in his hands.  

The crew was last seen running up Rodeo Drive and ducking into an alleyway. 

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It is unclear if anyone was injured, but the male victim was seen on the ground as the victim and another person knelt over him, one of which was yelling for help.  

Medical personnel with the Beverly Hills Fire Department responded to the incident, but authorities said the man and woman sought their own medical attention at a local hospital.

Their conditions were not immediately available.

An investigation into the robbery remains ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact BHPD at 310-285-2125. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.com.  

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Los Angeles, Ca

Authorities searching for at-risk missing teen last seen in Lancaster

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Authorities searching for at-risk missing teen last seen in Lancaster

Authorities in Los Angeles County are searching for a teenage girl they say could be at risk.

According to the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, 13-year-old Aleah Ashley Salgado was last seen at 11 p.m. Friday night on the 3000 block of East Avenue H-2 in Lancaster.

Authorities say her family is concerned for her well being.

Salgado was described as Hispanic, 5-foot-4 and 120 pounds, with long black wavy hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, grey sweatpants and black shoes.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Lancaster Station at 661-948-8466.

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