Los Angeles, Ca
San Fernando Valley businesses vandalized in possible antisemitic hate crimes
San Fernando Valley business owners are distraught after multiple stores were vandalized Monday in a series of possible antisemitic hate crimes.
The businesses included a tire shop, paint stores, a sign shop, restaurants, a mattress store, a dance studio an In-N-Out and more. Several of the businesses were Jewish-owned, police said.
On Jan. 6, at around 3 a.m., officers responded to three vandalism incidents within three blocks of the 20900 block of Victory Boulevard in Woodland Hills.
The suspect used rocks and cement bricks to smash the glass windows and doors of several businesses before fleeing the area on foot.
On Jan. 8, between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., police believe the same suspect vandalized additional businesses on Vanowen Street, Topanga Canyon Boulevard, and Sherman Way in Canoga Park.
All stores were found with shattered windows and damaged exteriors caused by rocks and bricks. The rocks found at the scenes had the words, “Glory” and “Pay Up” written on them, said LAPD.
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Large rocks were used to shatter the front glass doors with the words, “Pay Up” or “Glory” written on them. -
A suspect wanted for smashing glass windows and doors in a series of possible hate crimes targeting stores in the San Fernando Valley in January 2024. -
A suspect wanted for smashing glass windows and doors in a series of possible hate crimes targeting stores in the San Fernando Valley in January 2024. -
A mezuzah hanging on the door of a vandalized business, -
A suspect wanted for smashing glass windows and doors in a series of possible hate crimes targeting stores in the San Fernando Valley in January 2024. -
Large rocks were used to shatter the front glass doors with the words, “Pay Up” or “Glory” written on them. -
A suspect wanted for smashing glass windows and doors in a series of possible hate crimes targeting stores in the San Fernando Valley in January 2024. -
A suspect wanted for smashing glass windows and doors in a series of possible hate crimes targeting stores in the San Fernando Valley in January 2024. -
A suspect wanted for smashing glass windows and doors in a series of possible hate crimes targeting stores in the San Fernando Valley in January 2024.
Security video outside Weiler’s Deli and Restaurant in Canoga Park captured the male suspect walking up to the deli and smashing the glass doors with a large rock.
The deli’s owner, identified only as Nima, later found the rock where the words, “Pay Up” were written on it.
Nima is Jewish and believes he may have been targeted because a mezuzah was displayed at the entrance. A mezuzah is a case containing Hebrew verses that Jewish people affix to doorposts.
“I initially didn’t think it was a targeted hate crime but after learning from a few of my friends that other Jewish businesses were targeted, then I was like, ‘Oh, he didn’t take anything other than just vandalizing the store.’”
A video from another vandalized business, Catalina Paints on Topanga Boulevard, shows the suspect smashing glass doors with a large rock containing the same message of “Pay Up.”
“We happened to be Jewish-owned,” said Diego Salvatierra, operations manager at Catalina Paints. “That’s upsetting. They’re really good people. Family-owned, just really good people.”
“I feel this was done, very obviously because of that mezuzah,” said Mark Lawrence from Trophyman, another victimized business.
“When I get asked, ‘Are you sure it’s a hate crime? There’s a stone that says, ‘“Pay Up,’” said Guy Ziv from AlumLA, a vandalized store in Woodlands Hills. “I’m the only one with mezuzah here that got broken into. You see this guy not even thinking twice, throwing a huge rock into my window. That’s what raised my concern.”
Several security cameras from different stores captured what appears to be the same man hurling rocks at storefronts over the past several days. The series of vandalisms all occurred within a two-mile radius, police said.
Police are still investigating whether the incidents are all related. Some residents, however, don’t believe it’s a hate crime and instead believe the general area just isn’t that safe.
“I don’t think it’s because of the hate,” said Mali Shajari, owner of Mali’s Studio. “There’s a lot of homeless that come back and forth here. Every six or seven months, this happens.”
As authorities continue investigating the incidents, victimized owners are working on cleaning up damaged businesses hoping the suspect is caught soon.
“Maybe he wants just wants some sort of revenge toward different religions or people? Nima wondered. “Not 100 percent sure.”
The suspect is described as a man around 45 to 55 years old of unknown ethnicity. He stands around 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs about 170 pounds.
He is balding and has a gray or white beard. During the incidents, he was seen wearing Nike hoodies with black pants and white Nike sneakers.
Police believe there are other victims who have yet to be identified. A photograph of the suspect was released in hopes more victims will come forward and the suspect will be identified soon.
LAPD said at least two of the incidents are now being investigated as possible hate crimes.
Investigators believe there are other victims who have yet to be identified. A photograph of the suspect is being released in hopes the public may recognize the man,
Anyone who may be a victim or has information about the case is asked to call LAPD Detectives Beard or Patin at 213-486-7280. The public can also call LAPD at 1-877-527-3247.
Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222- 8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
A hospital needs help identifying a male patient who was found injured and unconscious in downtown Los Angeles.
The man is believed to be in his 30s, according to the Los Angeles General Medical Center.
He was found injured on the ground on Omar Street and has been hospitalized since June 22.
He stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 176 pounds. He has brown eyes, dark brown hair and tattoos across his upper body.
He did not have any personal belongings to help staff identify him or contact loved ones. Workers did not disclose the nature of his injuries.
Anyone who recognizes the man is asked to call clinical social worker Cesar Robles at 323-409-6885.
The public can also call the L.A. General Medical Center’s Department of Social Work at 323-409-5253 or, after hours from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., call 323-409-6883. On weekends, call 323-409-5254.
Police are asking the public for help Wednesday in identifying a hit-and-run driver who left a woman badly injured in Long Beach late last month. The May 24 crash occurred around 11 p.m. as the victim was crossing East 2nd Street, according to the Long Beach Police Department. Video provided by police showed a dark-colored […]
WARNING: Video footage contains graphic violence
A 62-year-old street vendor is recovering after a brutally violent attack by another woman in broad daylight as bystanders in downtown Los Angeles looked on.
The attack happened around 4 p.m. on June 15 in the 700 block of Figueroa Street, where Arabelia Martinez has sold hot dogs for years to support herself and her family.
Video of the incident, which has since circulated widely online, appears to show a woman confronting Martinez at her stand before spraying sauce across the vendor’s cart. Martinez responds by throwing what appears to be Tajín seasoning in the woman’s direction, and the confrontation quickly escalates.
The difficult-to-watch footage shows Martinez being shoved to the ground and struck multiple times as people look on. Some can be seen attempting to intervene, but the assault continues for roughly a minute before coming to an end.
“I was speechless,” Martinez’s son, Constantino Garcia, said after watching the video. “I couldn’t even see the whole thing.”
According to Garcia, the suspect approached his mother before the attack and attempted to intimidate her into giving her money.
“The lady came up to my mom trying to intimidate her and extort her for money, telling her she needed a permit to sell, which my mom does have,” Garcia told KTLA’s Carlos Saucedo.
When Martinez refused, Garcia claims the woman became verbally abusive.
“After she didn’t get her way and tried to extort my mom, she said, ‘Go back to Mexico,’ and made some racist remarks,” he said. “She said some disgusting things to my mom.”
Garcia said his mother continues to suffer lingering effects from the attack.
“She keeps complaining about her head,” he said. “We need to go see a head specialist because her head doesn’t stop hurting. As you could see in the video, she got slammed to the ground.”
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A 62-year-old L.A. street vendor was violently beaten by another woman downtown as bystanders watched the broad daylight attack on June 15, 2026. (Constantino Garcia) -
A 62-year-old L.A. street vendor was violently beaten by another woman downtown as bystanders watched the broad daylight attack on June 15, 2026. (Constantino Garcia) -
A 62-year-old L.A. street vendor was violently beaten by another woman downtown as bystanders watched the broad daylight attack on June 15, 2026. (Constantino Garcia) -
A 62-year-old L.A. street vendor was violently beaten by another woman downtown as bystanders watched the broad daylight attack on June 15, 2026. (Constantino Garcia) -
A 62-year-old L.A. street vendor was violently beaten by another woman downtown as bystanders watched the broad daylight attack on June 15, 2026. (Constantino Garcia) -
A 62-year-old L.A. street vendor was violently beaten by another woman downtown as bystanders watched the broad daylight attack on June 15, 2026. (Constantino Garcia) -
A 62-year-old L.A. street vendor was violently beaten by another woman downtown as bystanders watched the broad daylight attack on June 15, 2026. (Constantino Garcia) -
A 62-year-old L.A. street vendor was violently beaten by another woman downtown as bystanders watched the broad daylight attack on June 15, 2026. (Constantino Garcia) -
A 62-year-old L.A. street vendor was violently beaten by another woman downtown as bystanders watched the broad daylight attack on June 15, 2026. (Constantino Garcia) -
A 62-year-old L.A. street vendor was violently beaten by another woman downtown as bystanders watched the broad daylight attack on June 15, 2026. (Constantino Garcia) -
A 62-year-old L.A. street vendor was violently beaten by another woman downtown as bystanders watched the broad daylight attack on June 15, 2026. (Constantino Garcia)
The video has also sparked outrage over the response from some witnesses who were nearby during the assault.
“What’s going on with our society?” Garcia said. “Are we getting desensitized to an elderly woman being beaten in broad daylight and being surrounded by people doing the bare minimum to help her? That was horrible for me to watch.”
Witness Sebastian Gutierrez said he arrived moments after the confrontation and saw Garcia’s attacker causing additional chaos in the area.
“The lady began to flip over the tables of vendors,” Gutierrez said, describing the woman as possibly unstable. “It definitely seemed like there were mental health issues or drugs involved, like we see with a lot of things here in downtown L.A.,” he said.
The Los Angeles Police Department has launched a battery investigation into the incident KTLA confirmed, though no suspect information or news of a potential arrest has been released.
Meanwhile, Martinez’s family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help with her recovery and raise awareness about the dangers street vendors face daily.
“I hope that my mom gets justice for what happened to her,” Garcia said. He added that he’s been encouraged by the public response to the video.
“I’m grateful people are sympathizing with my mom,” he said. “People are giving it the attention it deserves.”
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