A series of robberies have occurred at more than half a dozen stores in Eagle Rock, prompting some business owners to demand action from local law enforcement.
The recent robberies, which occurred early Sunday morning at two restaurants and a coffee shop, are just the latest in a weeks-long series of problems plaguing the community.
Security video from affected businesses shows the moment a man breaks down the doors of businesses along Colorado Boulevard just after 4 a.m. Sunday.
Loop Espresso Club owner Dominika Abato arrived to find the door shattered just weeks after the coffee shop opened to the public.
“It's also expensive and we've only been open for two weeks, so this is my first business,” Abat told KCAL News.
No cash was stolen in this case, but I'm worried it will happen again and cost me even more money.
“Residents came and warned us about it,” Abat said. “It was happening at other businesses across the street and here as well.”
Alan Moore owns Cheebo, one of the hit restaurants of the weekend. He said the suspect threw a brick at the store's front door.
“Frankly, we'd have to sell a lot of pancakes to pay $800 just to fix it,” Moore said. “It's hard to deal with inflation, rising wages. And it doesn't get any easier when people take away things that aren't theirs.”
Chateau Lemongrass was also the victim of a recent robbery, making it the second such robbery in the past month. For the first time, employees said the thieves had taken the safe.
“We thought it was a crime of opportunity, but it actually took three businesses in a very short period of time,” Moore said. “So you have to think there was some kind of plan and someone knew what they were doing.”
The Los Angeles Police Department has increased patrols in the area following a spate of robberies that targeted at least five other businesses last month.
In addition, LA City Councilman Kevin de Leon recently set aside $100,000 for additional police work in his district to combat robberies in the Eagle Rock community.
