Parents turn in their kids after LAPD shares nearly 200 surveillance images of 7-Eleven mob robberies by 'youthful males'



A handful of parents turned in their kids after Los Angeles police shared nearly 200 surveillance images of recent 7-Eleven mob robberies by "youthful males."

Blaze News has been reporting about the 7-Eleven heists on bikes. In August, a mob of about 20 individuals pulled off three nighttime smash-and-grab robberies in a span of 20 minutes. Last month, 50 juveniles on bicycles easily ransacked and robbed a 7-Eleven in Los Angeles and escaped police.

Police said 13 of the 14 incidents have occurred on Friday evenings.

Police said the suspects enter the stores in the evening, remove merchandise, damage property, and flee on their bicycles without paying. Police said the incidents have been captured on security surveillance video, and the suspects have been described as youthful males, possibly teens, varying in ethnicity and physicality. Here's cell phone video of one incident.

Police said the suspects on several occasions physically pushed witnesses during the criminal takeovers with "no regard" for others' safety. Police added that although no injuries have been reported, several witnesses "continue to fear for their safety after such aggressive and callous criminal behavior."

Last week police unveiled a more extensive rundown of the "flash robberies" at 7-Elevens, saying they involve 20 to 40 suspects on bicycles who began targeting the stores on July 12. Police said all of the 7-Elevens are within a short distance of each other in the Rampart, Hollywood, Wilshire, and West LA Divisions. Police said 13 of the 14 incidents have occurred on Friday evenings.

What's more, police in their news release last week included nearly 200 images of suspects captured on surveillance cameras from various robberies.

Catching a break

KTLA-TV reported that Assistant LAPD Chief Blake Chow on Tuesday told the L.A. Board of Police Commissioners that the new release generated numerous tips from the public that led to arrests.

KTLA said the day after the news release was published, a parent brought in a juvenile who was involved in one of the robberies, according to Chow. He added that two other parents also turned in their kids on Saturday and Sunday, the station noted, adding that in each instance the child was booked for robbery.

Investigators learned through interviews that many of the juveniles involved in the 7-Eleven flash robberies were not from the neighborhoods where the crimes took place, Chow told KTLA.

More arrests are anticipated as anonymous tips continue to come in and school resource officers work to identify other juveniles involved, he added to the station.

You can view a video report here about the incidents.

Those with information are urged to contact 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247), KTLA said. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go to www.lacrimestoppers.org, the station added. Tipsters may also download the “P-3 Tips” mobile application and select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program, KTLA reported.

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Blaze News original: 10 times thugs went wimpy and made scared, hasty retreats after encountering more dangerous 'victims'



Who doesn't enjoy a Hollywood scene featuring a bad guy who meets his match and often won't even stick around to test his opponent — and instead just turns tail and runs away?

Always immensely satisfying.

'Words seem to fail you when your felony attempt is thwarted by lawful and righteous force. Thankfully, he decides that it is not the time for a robbery, and he slowly exits the store.'

Well, such scenarios happen in real life all the time, and we at Blaze News are only too happy to document them for our readers.

In the following breakdown, we bring you a diverse menu of dramatic face-offs during which the crook (or a whole crew of 'em) would appear to have the upper hand. But then the targeted "victim" responds in such a way that the bad guy no longer has any game and decides that it makes more sense to cut and run.

Here we have plucky store employees who are fed up with thugs robbing them at will; one dope who clearly never saw "The Untouchables" and unwittingly brings a knife to gunfight; a pair of scumbags who bash a large man in the back of the head and wisely run away when he rises up and throws but one punch; a tale about five well-disguised thugs who think they'll get away with a smash-and-grab jewelry store heist — until they run into the gun-wielding store owner who's had enough.

It's always a risk to push back against people who only mean you harm, but often when they get the message that you're ready to take them out if necessary, they will place more value upon their own skins than on their dumb capers.

So here are 10 times thugs went wimpy and made scared, hasty retreats after encountering more dangerous "victims."

Shotgun-toting crook makes his exit from convenience store after clerk emerges from back room 'holding his own gun toward the befuddled attempted robber,' sheriff's office says


A crook armed with a shotgun was caught on surveillance video entering a convenience store in Pensacola, Florida, on Sept. 9, 2022 — and soon made his exit after the store clerk emerged from a back room with his own gun and told the crook he no longer was welcome.

Video shows the man holding a shotgun on the right side of his body after entering the store in the 4000 block of North Pace Boulevard, the Escambia County sheriff’s office said. Authorities said the armed man didn't notice anyone behind the counter. The reason? The store clerk saw the man arm himself outside, after which the clerk went to a back room and grabbed his gun, the sheriff's office said.

When the crook saw the clerk return, "he freezes … oh boy," the sheriff's office explained, noting that the clerk "returned to the counter holding his own gun toward the befuddled attempted robber." The clerk isn't visible on the surveillance video, but he's heard telling the shotgun-wielding visitor to "put it back."

The crook replies, “I don’t mean no harm. I’m just not from around here."

"What you got in your hand, bro?" the clerk asks.

"I got a big-ass, motherf***ing gun, but I'm not from around here is what I'm sayin'," the crook answers. "I'm from Chicago, bro." He then implies he's carrying the shotgun for protection.

The clerk is unmoved, telling the armed man again to "put it back."

The sheriff's office quipped that "words seem to fail you when your felony attempt is thwarted by lawful and righteous force. Thankfully, he decides that it is not the time for a robbery, and he slowly exits the store."

The sheriff's office said 32-year-old Rakim Stephen Tate was arrested Sept. 15 in Santa Rosa County and charged with openly carrying a prohibited weapon and attempted robbery with a firearm. Authorities added that the Benelli shotgun used in the robbery attempt was recovered.

"You’re not in Chicago any more," the sheriff's office taunted at the conclusion of its post. "You’re under arrest."

Tate — who's actually a Pensacola resident — was taken to the Escambia County Jail. His bond for the attempted robbery with a firearm charge, a felony, was set at $100,000, jail records show.

Trio of armed robbers run for their lives when concealed-carrying store owner grabs his own gun — and shows he isn't afraid to pull the trigger


On Valentine's Day 2022, a trio of masked robbers stormed into Plaza Jewelers in Menlo Park, California, armed with guns and demanding money and merchandise, KRON-TV reported. Surveillance video of the incident showed one suspect carrying a shotgun, another holding a handgun, and the third appearing to be armed with a crowbar.

Store owner Alfonso Argulo acted quickly — and decisively. He grabbed his handgun and quickly fired a shot into the front door.

The suspects — who apparently didn't expect to encounter any armed resistance — immediately scrambled out of the store and into a getaway vehicle. The whole incident took just eight seconds. You can view video reports about the failed caper — which includes store surveillance video — here and here.

The anxiety-filled crooks in another video showing the parking lot can be seen running in fear for their lives and frantically grabbing the door handles of their gold minivan. One of them had trouble getting into the left-side door.

Argulo — who owns the jewelry store with his wife, Rosalba Farias, and runs security for the family business — told KTVU-TV he sprang into action to protect those he cares about: his customers.

The outlet reported that Argulo has had a concealed weapons permit for about 10 years; he reportedly used the same weapon in 2013 to scare off robbers — simply by pulling back the slide. While no arrests have been made, detectives said nothing was taken from the store and only Argulo fired a shot; no one was injured.

Thug threatens to shoot liquor store owner — then takes off running after store owner reaches under counter and gets firearm in hand


Surveillance video shows a male running into Cousins Liquor Store in Fountain Valley, California, on Aug. 17, 2023. The male was dressed in all black and wore sunglasses and covered his face with a bandana. He also was waving what looked like a gun.

But store owner Jacko Sadek told KABC-TV he felt calm throughout the attempted robbery because he'd been robbed at gunpoint before. Plus, this time he noticed some strange stuff.

"It looks like a kid, and the gun looks so fake ... like a plastic toy," Sadek recounted to the station.

Video shows the suspect aiming the apparent gun at Sadek before the store owner reaches under the counter and grabs his own gun. When he points it at the suspect, the man runs out of the store — and with Sadek giving chase. Police said a getaway car was waiting for the suspect in an alley.

You can view a video report here about the oh-so-nervous would-be robber.

Never bring a knife to a gunfight: Blade-carrying carjacker demands driver's keys — then experiences sudden change of heart when victim produces weapon with a little more power


A knife-wielding wannabe carjacker demanded a driver's keys in the parking lot of an Oregon Walmart just a week prior to Christmas 2023 — but quickly changed his mind when the victim pulled a gun on him.

Officers from the McMinnville Police Department responded to a local Walmart around 11:25 a.m. Dec. 19, authorities said. McMinnville is about an hour southwest of Portland. Police said the victim was loading items into his car when an adult male carrying a large knife approached him and demanded his car keys.

Fearing for his life, the victim drew a handgun he had holstered on his hip and pointed it at the subject. Apparently, the assailant feared for his own life a bit more, as he ran away through the parking lot toward the adjoining WinCo Foods grocery store, police said, adding that the victim was not harmed.

Authorities learned the subject left luggage behind, and one piece had a tag with the subject's name on it, police said. Officers obtained a photo of the subject and quickly determined that an individual standing near a Panda Express restaurant on the other side of Hwy 99W was the subject of interest, police said. Police detained the subject without incident, and he admitted to his involvement in the incident involving the victim in the parking lot, authorities said.

An officer also learned that a bystander found a large knife in the parking lot and picked it up for safety reasons, not realizing it was used in the original incident, police said, adding that the knife was collected as evidence. The subject — identified as Aaron J. Quiocho, 22, of Beaverton — admitted to ditching the knife as he ran away through the Walmart parking lot, police added. Quiocho was arrested and taken to the Yamhill County Jail on the charges of robbery, menacing, unlawful use of a weapon, and attempted unlawful use of a motor vehicle, police said.

Quiocho told police a family member dropped him off in McMinnville because he wasn't wanted at the family member's house in Beaverton. Quiocho added to police that he intended to take the victim’s car so he could drive back to the family member’s house.

Thugs bash big man in back of head with 'metal' object, knock him down on San Francisco street. But when he gets up and throws a punch, the thugs transition into sissies.


A pair of thugs got a scare the night before Halloween 2022 after bashing a 6-foot-2 man in the back of his head on a San Francisco street with what the victim later described as a "metal" object.

Sure, the impact knocked Richard Titus to the ground — and left a significant wound that required five staples to close it — but he got up and punched one of the attackers, after which they likely figured they'd lose this fight and promptly ran away.

Titus told KPIX-TV he had just parked his car in the area of Sutter and Baker Streets and took a short walk to a friend's home around 9:30 p.m.

"I was walking up the street, minding my own business, I heard some footsteps behind me, and then suddenly 'bam' — I got hit in the back of the head with something metal [and] went down on all fours," he told the station. "When I got up, I turned around, there were two assailants. One holding a bar and one not. The one not holding something was closer to me, so I took a swing at him."

Titus was more specific with KRON-TV, chuckling as he recounted that "I punched him, as you do."

KRON added that Titus believes his reaction surprised his attackers, scaring them enough to run away. KPIX said he believes they may have been after his rare wristwatch — a 1968 Rolex Daytona, according to KRON.

"I didn't actually realize how bad the injury was, and standing on a street corner in the cold, my head was hurting, I was bleeding," Titus told KPIX. "I just wanted to get home and bandage my head and go to bed." He didn't call 911 because he said he was expecting a delayed police response, KPIX said.

The next day — Halloween — Titus went to a hospital to get checked out, KPIX said, adding that he suffered a severe concussion and needed five staples in the back of his head.

Blaze News has extensively covered the increase in San Francisco crime over the past few years — which has resulted in some unbelievable reactions and led businesses to close up shop and residents to move out.

"I always felt safe in San Francisco, even in the dangerous years, 15 years ago," Titus noted to KPIX. "But even before this experience, it feels more menacing, and the police response seems slower." He added to KRON that "I’ve never been mugged before, I’ve definitely never been assaulted before by strangers. It felt a little scary given I’m in the city I love." You can view a video report here about the incident.

Jewelry store owner fights hooded crowbar-wielding crook who smashes display case. But when owner pulls gun, bad guy apparently recalls he's running late for previous engagement — and he and his buddies take a powder.


Police told KRON-TV that five males in their teens to early 20s came to a jewelry store in the Tanforan Mall in San Bruno, California, just after 1 p.m. on Jan. 21, 2022. The store's surveillance video, however, shows one smash-and-grab suspect shattering the store's glass display case with a crowbar.

But instead of running off with valuable merchandise, this crook came face to face with Usman Bhatti — the store's owner — and Bhatti wasn't about to let the crook get away without a fight. With that, Bhatti is seen running at the would-be robber and shoving him backward. The suspect then turned toward the owner and raised the crowbar as if he was going to hit him, police told the station.

With that, Bhatti got hold of a bit more powerful weapon, pulling his gun and pointing it at the crook, who immediately took off running. Surveillance video shows what appears to be at least one of the crook's accomplices, who was outside the store, also running away.

Officials told KRON the store owner has a concealed carry permit, that no injuries were reported, and that no guns were fired. Bhatti spoke to KRON in a separate story, saying that "it was a bad experience. I mean everybody is giving me a thumbs up ... [but] I don’t really feel good about it." However, he added to the station that "I will feel good when I see people are really trying to protect themselves and others rather than just back off."

Bhatti told KRON that smash-and-grab robberies have been a menace lately for business owners across the Bay Area. Days after he fought off the crowbar-wielding crook, a second jewelry store at the mall was hit, the station reported. Police have released two sets of images of the suspects wanted for committing these crimes, KRON said.

You can view a video report here about Bhatti's experience.

73-year-old store manager points his .38-caliber revolver at smash-and-grab thugs — one of whom has a sledgehammer — and they morph into wimps and head for the hills


A gang of thugs tried a smash-and-grab robbery at the Estates Consignments store in Pleasant Hill, California, on the afternoon of Dec. 11, 2023 — but the crew clearly wasn't counting on pushback from the store manager, 73-year-old Albert Marcu, and his .38-caliber revolver.

Marcu told KTVU-TV he believes a woman who came into the store prior to the group was a scout for them. She was seen trying to keep a security guard from shutting a door apparently in order to let the group inside.

Video shows the gang of young males running into the store, one of whom was carrying a sledgehammer. But as soon as Marcu pulled out his gun, the thieves fell to the floor and ran out of the store. One of the thugs tripped after plowing into a chair on the way out.

The would-be thieves rushed into a pair of Infiniti Q50 vehicles, one black and one white, and the crew ultimately escaped.

Marcu said he was absolutely prepared to use lethal force to protect himself and the other employees of the store: "If they threaten my life or the life of my employees, I'll use the gun, hundred percent."

He added that other area stores have been hit, and he wanted to make an example of the thugs: "I didn’t want to shoot anybody, but I have to make a statement. Too many bad things have happened. Stores get robbed left and right. I have a message for all business owners, to take example and fight for themselves, because if you don’t fight for yourself, nobody will."

You can view a video report here about the incident.

'It really p***es me off': Jewelry store owner has lethal surprise for trio of smash-and-grab thieves — and they don't stick around to test him


A North Carolina jewelry store owner had a little surprise for masked smash-and-grab thieves who targeted his store in Charlotte on Dec. 15, 2023: a loaded gun he pointed right at them.

The crooks entered Ballantyne Jewelers off Johnston Road just before closing, Queen City News reported. Security video caught the three thieves backing up their car near the front door, walking into the store armed with sledgehammers, and smashing several glass display cases, the outlet said.

But the store’s owner, Yuhan Tikan, wasn't having it.

Queen City News said Tikan grabbed his handgun, loaded it, and chased the suspects away while pointing the gun at them: “It really pisses me off; it makes me upset. It quite honestly is a disgrace, and I hope that law enforcement can catch these guys and put them away for a long time.”

The store owner told WSOC-TV the crooks smashed 13 jewelry cases and got well over $100,000 worth of jewelry — and while it’s all insured, he said what was stolen in 30 seconds will take a long time to replace.

WSOC's story didn't name the jewelry store owner, but the owner did tell the station the suspects knew exactly which cases to hit and had cased the business previously. WSOC added that the owner said the crooks went straight for the most expensive watches. The owner also told WSOC that the thieves may have kept grabbing more loot had he failed to grab his gun after hearing the sound of shattering glass — and he didn't hesitate: “Without a second thought. I needed to protect my business, my family.”

He added to WSOC that "they are lucky they ran out. I was ready to shoot."

Quintet of smash-and-grab robbers quickly go for greener grass when jewelry store employee pulls gun, starts shooting


Video shows the moment when a jewelry store worker opened fire on five smash-and-grab robbers in Manhattan Beach, California, shortly after 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 7, 2023. Investigators said five robbers used hammers to break display cases at Prestige Jewelers, KABC-TV reported.

KABC's video report shows the robbers — all wearing hoods and masks and gloves — entering the store as some of them smash the display cases and others bring in at least two black containers into which they toss jewelry from the cases.

After the store employee opens fire and the crooks turn tail and run, at least one of the containers is left behind — including one black sneaker. The suspects took off in several cars waiting outside, police told the station, adding that it's unclear whether any of the suspects were hit by gunfire.

No injuries involving workers were reported, KABC said. Police told KTLA-TV the suspects were able to make off with some of the store’s merchandise. Manhattan Beach police said its officers working with Gardena police arrested a suspect involved in the robbery following an intensive investigation. Police said they're still trying to find the other suspects and are asking for the public's help. You can view a video report here about the incident that includes surveillance clips.

KTLA said the robbery wasn't the first time smash-and-grab crooks robbed Prestige Jewelers. The station said another similarly hooded, hammer-wielding crew robbed the store in August 2014, making off with some $250,000 in Rolex watches and diamonds.

Crook flashes gun in car dealership office; but after owner grabs his own firearm, smiling bad guy apparently recalls he's late for appointment at another lot and make hasty retreat


A male walked into a Houston car dealership office around 5:15 p.m. March 21, 2022, and flashed a gun at an employee. But police said the employee pulled out his own gun, which led to the suspect turning tail and running off.

Surveillance video from the Houston Police Department shows two unknown males arriving in the parking lot of a used car dealership in the 7300 block of Gulf Freeway. A dealership employee told police one of the males walked up to him asking if he could test drive a car. Video shows the employee walking into the office, the suspect following behind — and reaching below his hoodie before going inside.

As the employee sat in his chair, he noticed the suspect pulling up his shirt, police said. Video shows the suspect grabbing a gun, apparently in full view of the employee. While the moment isn't recorded on surveillance video, police said the employee grabbed his own gun. Indeed, video shows the suspect smiling, turning around, and running through the parking lot and across the street. Police noted that the suspect said "no!" to the employee before taking off.

Video shows the driver who remained in the car — a four-door Mercedes with temporary license plates — appearing to turn the vehicle around as his apparent accomplice runs away. Police said the second suspect also fled from the parking lot.

Police said the suspect who entered the office is described as 5'7" to 5'9" tall, weighing about 250 pounds, and between 28 and 40 years of age. Authorities added that the getaway driver also is a black male.

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Mob pulls off 3 smash-and-grab robberies in 20 minutes at LA 7-Elevens — on same day Newsom signs bills fighting same crimes



A mob of about 20 individuals pulled off three smash-and-grab robberies in 20 minutes Friday night at Hollywood 7-Elevens — the same day Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed bills into law that are said to combat such crimes, KNBC-TV reported.

The crooks fled on bicycles from the stores, which are within a two-mile radius of each other, the station said.

The station also rolled surveillance video of a similar smash-and-grab by a mob of teenagers at another area 7-Eleven the previous week.

The first store on 7040 West Sunset Blvd. was robbed just after 8 p.m., KNBC said, adding that the business was left with a broken window.

The second store near Hollywood and Highland was robbed at 8:16 p.m., the station said, adding that the crooks assaulted an employee.

The third store at 5700 Santa Monica Boulevard was robbed at 8:22 p.m., KNBC said.

More from the station:

The string of robberies took place on the same day Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bipartisan package of 10 bills that aims to crack down on smash-and-grab robberies and property crimes, making it easier to go after repeat shoplifters and auto thieves and increase penalties for those running professional reselling schemes.

The station also rolled surveillance video of a similar smash-and-grab by a mob of teenagers at another area 7-Eleven the previous week.

It's worth noting that a mob of about 30 teenagers on bicycles were caught on video brutally beating up and robbing a lone man in downtown Los Angeles earlier this month. The victim suffered a broken leg — which will require surgery — as well as deep cuts all over his body after getting kicked and punched while on the ground.

How are observers reacting?

Over 150 comments were logged under the KNBC YouTube video report — and as you might expect, they weren't happy:

  • "Parent is like, 'Bring me home some chips & cigarettes sweetie. Have fun,'" one commenter noted sarcastically.
  • "How sad is an entire state [that has] been taken over by teenagers?!?!" another commenter opined.
  • "Stop calling them people. People don't act this way," another commenter stated. "Clearly this is some other species."
  • "Only bookstores are safe in California," another commenter quipped.

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Blaze News original: Store workers use their guts, fists, and wits to battle crooks tooth and nail — Part 2



Blaze News' first installment of its two-part series on store workers who use their guts, fists, and wits to battle crooks tooth and nail features a mother and daughter encountering a crook right at closing time ... a hard-working dad on a conference call with his daughter's school as he's ready to wind things down for the evening when a thug puts a pistol in his face ... and a woman behind a counter who reads the riot act to a gun-toting goon who threatens to shoot her if she doesn't hand over all the register's cash. You no doubt recall that she has a piping hot weapon ready for him, too.

Thing is, we found so many similar examples that we had to offer a second part. In this roundup, you'll read about a female clerk in an Ohio smoke shop who stands up to a thug who put a gun in her face and demanded money ... a Target security guard who punched an unhinged female in the face after she aggressively backed him into an office after demanding "reparations" amid a grocery bill topping $1,000 ... and an 80-year-old liquor store owner who gained fame after he shot a hooded, rifle-toting crook — an incident that was caught on surveillance video and showed the assailant turning tail and running out of the store yelling, "He shot my arm off! He shot my arm off!"

'There was quite a bit of a struggle. ... You can see she grabs that vape case and smashes it over his head, and then as as they fall to the ground she grabs a sword and takes a couple swings at him and hits him ...'

In some cases, these store employees working behind the counters and elsewhere own the businesses and feel the loss acutely when thugs steal from them. But in other cases, they don't own the businesses — and you'd figure they have no reason to battle back, but they do anyway because it's the right thing to do, and they care about the people who employ them.

Indeed, they're the best of us. Check out their stories below:

Female Family Dollar clerk fights male who pushes through plexiglass barrier, stabs at her, tries to grab cash from register


A female clerk at a North Carolina Family Dollar fought off a male customer who pushed through a plexiglass barrier, stabbed at her, and tried to grab money from the cash register — and the scary encounter was caught on surveillance video.

The customer at the Sharpsburg store paid for a cigarette lighter with cash about 12:09 p.m. on July 14, 2022, the Rocky Mount Telegram reported. Sharpsburg is about an hour east of Raleigh. When the clerk opened the cash register, surveillance video shows the male push through a plexiglass barrier and stab at the clerk, WRAL-TV reported. The Telegram said he was holding a knife.

The clerk quickly responds by beating back the male with her hands, the station said, adding that police said the male was trying to steal cash from the register. Video shows the male running out of the store after the struggle; the clerk appears to throw something at the male as takes off.

The clerk called 911 and said the suspect was headed north on U.S. 301 toward Rocky Mount, the Telegram said. Rocky Mount is about 10 minutes north of Sharpsburg. The clerk suffered a cut on her hand during the struggle, the Telegram said. Video shows the clerk holding her left hand and signaling for help, WRAL said.

Sharpsburg police quickly caught the suspect, the Telegram said. WRAL said he was arrested the same day the incident took place.

Mohammud Alsaleh, 34, was charged with attempted armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious bodily injury, the Telegram said, adding that he was jailed under a $250,000 bond in the Nash County Detention Center.

'He shot my arm off! He shot my arm off!' 80-year-old liquor store owner lets his shotgun do the talking when hooded crook armed with rifle walks in


After four male suspects wearing facial coverings and hoods pulled up to the Norco Market & Liquor store in California at 2:45 a.m. July 31, 2022, one of them entered the establishment brandishing a rifle. But that didn't scare 80-year-old store owner Craig Cope.

He saw what was happening outside his store on surveillance cameras, KCAL-TV reported, after which Cope armed himself. Surveillance video of the exchange inside the store shows Cope offering a brief warning to the rifle-wielding crook, who does not relent, after which Cope opens fire and finds his target.

The wounded suspect flees back to the vehicle, screaming, "He shot my arm off! He shot my arm off!" You can view a video report about the incident here.

Despite suffering a heart attack after the incident and requiring three stents, Cope returned to work just days later. He told KCAL in a follow-up story that the would-be robber he shot is "in the hospital, in critical condition. So, it must have been a pretty good shot."

Regarding the foiled robbery, Cope told one reporter, "I took care of it, and that was that." Cope's wife, who told KCAL she didn't want to be identified, issued a warning to prospective criminals in the area: "Stay out of Norco, because everybody in Norco has a gun." Norco is just shy of an hour southeast of Los Angeles and about 20 minutes southwest of Riverside.

KABC-TV reported that Cope suffered a stroke in October 2022, and his store's Facebook page announced that he died on the morning of Dec. 27, 2022.

Three of the four male suspects from the incident pleaded guilty Sept. 20, 2023, to six felony charges and were immediately sentenced, the Mercury News reported. Davon Anthony Broadus, 24, Justin Kyle Johnson, 22, and Jamar Elijah Williams, 26, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, attempted robbery, carrying a loaded stolen firearm, possession of an assault weapon, and two counts of receiving stolen property, the Mercury News said, adding that charges of assault with an assault weapon and cruelty to an elder were dropped. Riverside County Superior Court Judge Gary Polk sentenced them to five years in custody, the paper said.

The trio drove Rasheed DaShawn Lee Belvin, 23 — the suspect Cope shot — to a hospital, where all of them were arrested, the News said. Neither of Belvin’s arms were shot off, the paper noted. Belvin’s attorney made a motion to have his case diverted to Mental Health Court, where charges could have been dropped after treatment, but the judge denied the motion, the Mercury News reported. Belvin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, attempted robbery, assault with a machine gun or assault weapon, cruelty to an elder, carrying a loaded stolen firearm, illegal possession of an assault weapon, and two counts of receiving stolen property, the Press-Enterprise reported, adding that Polk on Oct. 31, 2023, sentenced Belvin to 10 years in prison.

San Francisco store owners fight back against teenage smash-and-grab robbers who use hammers as weapons. The crooks lose.


Owners of a San Francisco camera store fought back against a trio of teenage smash-and-grab robbers, and even though the crooks used hammers in the fight, they all ran off apparently without any merchandise.

The teens walked into the Chinatown store around 3:20 p.m. on March 21, 2022, and asked about the price of a camera, KPIX-TV reported, adding that they stayed in the store for about three minutes and then departed. The station said they returned about 30 minutes later — but they weren't interested in a transaction.

“All of a sudden, they pulled out a hammer, and they started trying to smash the glass,” shop co-owner Sergio told KPIX. Problem was, the cases behind the counter are plexiglass and wouldn’t break, the station said, adding that one glass countertop case did shatter.

Surveillance video shows one of the store owners grabbing what appears to be a bat or a rod, and he approaches the crooks, two of whom swing hammers at Sergio and the other co-owner.

“One of the guys up there is trying to hit my partner with a hammer,” Sergio told the station. “I run, and I try to grab a bat that I have. Try to protect myself and my business here.”

KPIX said a neighboring business owner ran over to help and was hit in the head with a hammer, after which he needed 10 stitches.

“One of the guys, they put the pepper spray in my eyes,” Sergio added to the station. “The other guy is trying to hit me with a hammer, and I’m trying to protect myself.”

After about a minute, the attempted robbery and hammer attack were over, KPIX said. Video shows the trio running out of the trashed store, apparently without any merchandise.

The station said the store co-owners have been in the camera business for 27 years, but now, they're nervous about coming in to work. "We don’t know them – but they know us because we work over here seven days a week," Ariel, the other co-owner, told KPIX.

Sergio added to the station, "After this, I’m worried, and I’m scared — because God forbid if they come back. Hopefully they [are] not gonna come back. But if they come back with a gun, what happens?”

You can view video of the altercation here. You can also watch a video report about the crime and the aftermath here.

Smoke shop owner fights back, stabs would-be thief: 'I was in a fight or flight mode'


Johnny Nguyen, owner of the Smokestrom Smoke Shop in Las Vegas, was in his store in the middle of the day Aug. 3, 2022, when two individuals wearing ski masks walked in. Surveillance video shows Nguyen asking them, "Why are you guys wearing masks like that?" Nguyen then said, "Can you guys just leave?"

One of the individuals takes a tip jar, and Nguyen says they can take the jar but asks them to leave the coins. Suddenly, one of them jumps over the counter. Nguyen responded by stabbing the would-be thief seven times with a knife while the other individual ran out of the smoke shop.

As he's being stabbed, the would-be thief yells, "I'm dead! I'm dead!" then falls to the floor. Nguyen dragged the crook near the front door; the store owner also called police.

Nguyen told KVVU-TV, "I was in a fight or flight mode… a lot of adrenaline going through my body." He also told the station he plans to purchase a gun for the store in the event his store is robbed again.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police said officers arrested two juveniles involved in the attempted robbery. The stabbed would-be robber was taken to a hospital; authorities didn't reveal the suspect's condition. No charges were immediately filed against Nguyen.

Masked thug points gun at female clerk in smoke shop, demands cash and vapes. But she's not about to let him waltz away without a fight.


Dejea Steiner was working behind the counter at the Magic Wizard Smoke Shop in Euclid, Ohio, last summer when a masked individual pointed a gun at her and demanded cash and vapes, WJW-TV reported.

Steiner grabbed a display case to retrieve the items, but she had no intention of complying. “I wanted to get out of that situation, so I did whatever I could,” the 27-year-old told the station.

For starters, Steiner rammed the display case into the robber's face, WJW said, adding that after she and the robber ended up on the floor fighting, Steiner grabbed a sword she remembered was near the cash register and started swinging it. The station said the suspect fired his gun and yelled several times for Steiner to “get back!”

“After the gunshot, I just ran out the door,” Steiner told WJW, adding that she hollered for help. The suspect grabbed several items as well as cash and took off, the station said.

Euclid Police Chief Scott Meyer told WJW the suspect is very dangerous — and that Steiner is fortunate to have gotten away from him: “The clerk is just very lucky she wasn’t injured or killed during the incident. I am so glad she is OK.”

The June 27, 2023, incident was captured on surveillance video. “There was quite a bit of a struggle," Euclid Police Capt. Mitch Houser noted to the station. "You can see she grabs that vape case and smashes it over his head, and then as as they fall to the ground she grabs a sword and takes a couple swings at him and hits him — but the sheath was still on, so it didn’t do any damage.”

Steiner told WJW she's all done with violent criminals, saying they've "kind of made people fed up, you know? I come to work every day. The people that own the store, they are struggling, too — and then to see people go out here and do this type of thing and harming people, you know, it's not OK.”

Steiner added to the station that she hopes to become a graphic designer — and she also holds out some hope for the armed crook who took what wasn't his.

“I understand life is hard," she explained to WJW. "It's hard for me. I've been through so much stuff. I'm even considered homeless right now, and I still get up and work. You need to work. We need to all try and help the economy. If you get a second chance at life, please do the right thing.”

Target security guard punches unhinged female in face who reportedly chased him into office after demanding 'reparations' amid $1K grocery bill: 'This is my Rosa Parks moment'


The incident took place in October 2022 in Blue Ash, Ohio, after Karen Ivery asked the Target cashier for the manager regarding her bill of more than $1,000 in groceries and "reparations," the New York Post said, citing a police report.

When speaking with the manager, Ivery first asked for reparations and then grew angry as she walked “aggressively” toward the manager, the Post said, citing the report. “Ivery kept berating her about reparations and her privileged life,” the report said, according to the Post, as the customer continued walking toward the manager.

With that, Zach Cotter — a loss-prevention officer — intervened and asked Ivery to calm down and leave the store, the paper noted, citing the report. But Ivery allegedly began screaming at Cotter and followed him to his office, the Post reported.

When he tried to shut the door, Ivery allegedly forced her way into the office — and Cotter threw a punch, the Post added, citing the report. Ivery fell to the floor after the wallop. You can view video of the punch here.

Later, a rather jaw-dropping scene took place in the office as one of the cops called to the scene tells Ivery that video shows her backing the security guard — who feared for his safety — into an office. She replied that "when people are backed into a corner, they can choose to do the right thing, or they can choose to lash out."

Ivery also claimed she "held the line" and then "moved my line continuously" before accusing store employees of "gatekeeping me." Soon, she was holding aloft her left fist and hollering, "If the laws are meant to hold people down, you will fight for me, my community! You will come for me!"

She added, "People that look like you are done trying to gatekeep people that look like me." Video also shows Ivery telling a police officer, "This is my Rosa Parks moment, dude. Don't play with me."

Authorities determined that Ivery was the “aggressor,” after which she was placed under arrest, the Post said. “Ivery was confrontational with officers on the scene and didn’t want to explain her actions,” the report added, according to the paper.

Ivery was sentenced to a day in jail and charged $110 for disorderly conduct, the Post said, citing the Daily Mail. The Post said a Target spokesperson declined to comment about the incident.

'They're just sick of it': 6 smash-and-grab crooks hit jewelry center, but tenants — some of whom 'feed three families' — fight back to defend their livelihoods


Six black-clad crooks attempted a smash-and-grab robbery at a downtown Los Angeles jewelry center on Sept. 6, 2022, but the tenants — some of whom "feed three families" — weren't having it and fought back against the robbers to defend their livelihoods, KCBS-TV reported. Surveillance video caught the mayhem during the attempted robbery at St. Vincent Jewelry Center; the station said tenants used display cases as barriers and threw objects at the would-be robbers. You can view a video report about the incident here.

"The majority of our tenants have the kind of glass that you can't break, so [the robbers] were not successful," Nejdeh Avedian, general manager of the center, told KCBS. A security guard detained one of the suspects in a nearby parking lot, after which police took the suspect into custody, the station said.

Avedian told KCBS the majority of his tenants are from other countries and put their entire livelihoods on the line for the jewelry they're selling — which Avedian said explains why they fought back. "You know what?" he added to the station. "I think they're just sick of it."

Avedian explained to KCBS that "some of these tenants, they feed three families, so the grandfather, the father, and now the son — so they're not going to just sit there and let people take all this jewelry without doing anything about it."

The jewelry district was established in 1972, but Avedian told the station smash-and-grab robberies have been surging in the jewelry district in the last two years — presumably because consequences for getting caught are minimal.

"There's no repercussion for them," he noted to KCBS. "Their repercussion is, if they get caught, they go to jail; the next day, they're out walking around the streets. We want police to help us, and they are. We're setting up meetings with them. We've been discussing it with them. We just need more help from [Council District]14, from our council member, from our government, to help us with these types of things."

Employees of family-owned jewelry store fight back against hammer-wielding smash-and-grab assailants


Employees of a California jewelry store fought back against hammer-wielding assailants and repelled their smash-and-grab robbery attempt on May 22, 2022.

Video KTLA-TV obtained shows employees at the Princess Bride Diamonds store at the Bella Terra mall in Huntington Beach react quickly to several assailants with hammers running into the store around noon to smash the display cases. You can view KTLA's video report about the incident — which includes surveillance video of the fight — here.

Among the employees were a brother and sister who work for their father. The Baca family has owned the shop for several years.

“We had an idea that it could happen, but it’s always different when it actually does happen,” Dallas Baca said, adding that one suspect hit him in the head with a hammer during the altercation.

“I didn’t even register it until after they left because there was so much like adrenaline going on,” Baca said of the strike to his temple area.

Sarah Baca told KTLA she "picked up a chair" and "hit the one guy in the head that was attacking Lily,” who is another employee.

“I’m just glad everyone’s OK. I’m glad that our team banded together, and we were able to put up a fight and stop what was happening,” she added.

The thieves stole about $7,000 worth of jewelry in the incident, Huntington Beach police spokeswoman Jennifer Carey said.

Other workers in the mall said they were happy the employees fought back.

“I guess they walked in the store, broke some things, but the family fought them off, so good for them, right?” surf shop worker Kyle Sary noted.

NYC jewelry store worker fights back when robbers threaten to kill him if he doesn't open display case. He survives, but crooks get away with $1K in rings.


A New York City jewelry store worker managed to escape injury after he fought back early this year against robbers who threatened to shoot him if he didn't open a display case. The robbers, however, got away with rings valued at $1,000 — and they both changed clothes during their getaway in an effort to evade capture.

Police said the pair watched Ray’s Midtown Jewelry on Lexington Avenue near East 45th Street for about half an hour before entering the store, the New York Daily News reported. Crime Stoppers said it all went down around 5:20 p.m. Jan. 4. One of the robbers racked his gun several times and threatened to shoot the 53-year-old worker if he didn’t open a display case, police told the paper.

But the worker fought back, wrestling with the second robber, who was toting a can of pepper spray, the paper said. With that, the gunman didn't wait on the outcome of the fight and smashed the glass display case with his gun, the Daily News noted.

While the worker wasn't hurt, police told the paper the duo ran off with rings valued at $1,000 — and changed their clothing. However, the Daily News said the gunman, while racking his weapon, left behind ballistic evidence police recovered. Authorities released surveillance images of the suspects and asked the public to help identify them, the paper said.

The Post reported that a man who gave only his first name — Michael — said he entered the jewelry store moments after the armed robbery.

“You could see the glass was smashed all over, and [the owner] was terrified,” Michael — a 57-year-old customer who works in financial services — told the paper. “He’s scared, you know. I mean, he hasn’t opened up since. And you feel bad for the guy because you know this is really killing his business. I mean, he’s got overhead, and he’s afraid to open.”

A clerk at a news stand right next to the jewelry store — who also gave only his first name, Sharif — told the paper he's scared that he'll also become a victim.

“New York City is a big problem now. No security,” the 58-year-old Brooklyn resident told the paper. “It is really getting very bad here. We have a problem. I do not know who comes in, who has a gun. They ask for $100 in [lottery tickets], and then they reach in their jacket, and I am worried they pull out a gun.”

Gun-wielding crook holds up convenience store, but clerk fights back while handing over cash. Crook fires shots — and he miraculously misses.


Valins Cesar opened the Bi-Low Market in Delray Beach, Florida, around 7 a.m. Dec. 5, 2021, and a male he identified as a regular customer walked in soon afterward.

“When he usually comes [in], he says, ‘Hey, brother, how you doing?’ And we would make a joke and stuff,” Cesar recalled to WPBF-TV. But the familiar customer was not in a laughing mood this time — and Cesar told the station the male walked around the counter, pulled out a gun, and pointed it at Cesar’s head.

“He says, ‘Open the register. Give me the money,’” Cesar recounted to WPBF. “I’m like, ‘OK. That’s what you want.’ And I open the register and give him the money.” Surveillance video captured the moment Cesar held the wad of cash and dropped it the crook's bag — as well as the life-and-death decision Cesar made next. Video shows Cesar throwing a fast punch when the gunman appeared to be looking away, and then a struggle broke out. Cesar shoved the gunman backward and through the door that separates the area behind the counter from the rest of the store.

As the gunman stumbled to the floor, he fired a shot into the ceiling, the station said, adding that seconds later, the gunman fired another shot — and this bullet flew past Cesar and hit a box of cigars.

“I didn’t know the gun was real,” Cesar told WPBF, noting his reasons for deciding to fight the gunman. “When he goes down, the gun went off like boom! That’s when I realized the gun is real.”

Other thoughts went through Cesar's mind as well, the station said — and they were all about his wife and children. “I was thinking, 'If I was to die, I mean, who's gonna help them?'” Cesar recounted to WPBF. “I mean, like, the kids need their father.”

Police identified the suspect as Brandon Bryant, who was in police custody, the station said, adding that investigators noted Bryant also is responsible for an armed robbery two days prior at Bodega Delray.

WPBF added that despite the hair-raising incident, which included a bullet flying past him, Cesar didn't miss any work. Why? Because he has a family to feed, he told the station. You can view a video report about the incident here.

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Video shows San Francisco smash-and-snatch thieves go on spree of systematic thefts from vehicles



Viral video captured the moment a team of thieves executed a spree of systematic smash-and-sntach thefts from vehicles in San Francisco, California.

Brazen Bay area burglars boldly began a barrage of break-ins during broad daylight despite bystanders nearby. The systematic smash-and-grab robberies were caught on video by a car following the mobile crime spree.

Video shows a white Lexus sedan pulling next to parked cars in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf tourist area. A man wearing a black ski mask is seen getting out of the Lexus, then peering into the windows of parked cars to see if there are any valuables. If the thief saw something of interest, he would bust open the window and steal the valuables. Then the Lexus is off to the next vehicle to burglarize.

Since it is a tourist area, the thief is seen stealing bags and luggage likely belonging to travelers visiting the area.

KTVU crime reporter Henry K. Lee wrote on Twitter, "These guys in Lexus bipped cars all over SF’s Fisherman’s Wharf, one by one."

Lee noted that one of the cars that was burglarized "actually had someone sitting in the back seat of the blue SUV," adding that the person in the vehicle screamed as the robbery took place.

The San Francisco Standard defines bipping as: "That's slang for breaking into a car and looting it of any valuables — which, if the car owner is lucky, they might see again being resold on a street corner."

San Francisco Police Lt.Tracy McCray told the New York Post, "It's called 'bipping and boosting.' It really exploded during the pandemic so much so that someone told me that the sidewalks are glistening and sparkling [with glass from windows] where cars are broken into left and right."

In the past 30 days, robberies have jumped 26% compared to the previous year, according to data tracked by the San Francisco Police Department.

There have been nearly 1,670 car break-ins in the past 30 days in San Francisco, according to police statistics. So far this year, there have been almost 10,000 thefts from vehicles in San Francisco.

Tourist areas such as North Beach, Japantown, and Presidio have the highest rate of car break-ins per 10,000 residents.

As TheBlaze reported last week, some federal employees working at the Nancy Pelosi Federal Building in San Francisco were instructed to work from home "for the foreseeable future" because of the city's concerning crime crisis.

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— (@)

Video: Up to 50 smash-and-grab thieves ransack LA Nordstrom, steal $100K in merchandise during brazen heist



Video shows a mob of as many as 50 thieves ransacking a California Nordstrom store in the middle of the day on Saturday.

Around 4:15 p.m. on Saturday, as many as 50 smash-and-grab thieves pulled off a brazen flash mob robbery at the Nordstrom store in the Westfield Topanga Mall in the Canoga Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. The swarm of robbers – dressed in all black wearing hoods and masks – snatched high-priced luxury bags and clothing. Some of the bags were still attached to display cases as thieves fled the store.

Customers and store employees looked on helplessly.

A witness told KABC, "I really didn't understand at first what was going on and then I recognized what was really happening when all the security ... everybody was going to the one area."

At least one security guard was doused in Mace pepper spray or bear spray during the robbery. The guard was treated on the scene by paramedics.

Police say the thieves ran out with the stolen goods and escaped the crime scene in multiple cars – including a BMW and a Lexus.

Investigators said the flash mob robbery stole up to $100,000 in merchandise.

The Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement, "To criminals, it is just property taken. To those who live in the area and patronize the Topanga Mall, it is a loss of feeling safe. The LAPD will exhaust all efforts to bring those responsible into custody and seek criminal prosecution."

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) also issued a statement, "What happened today at the Nordstrom in the Topanga Mall is absolutely unacceptable. Those who committed these acts and acts like it in neighboring areas must be held accountable. The Los Angeles Police Department will continue to work to not only find those responsible for this incident but to prevent these attacks on retailers from happening in the future."

While no suspects have yet to be arrested, LAPD officers said they have several leads.

The same Nordstrom store was hit by smash-and-grab thieves armed with pepper spray in 2021.

KTLA reported, "Several suspects were arrested at the time, with ties to an organized crime spree involving other robberies that took place across the Southland."

On Tuesday afternoon, 30 robbers pulled off a heist at the Yves Saint Laurent store in Glendale, about 20 miles west of Saturday's robbery. Criminals stole about $300,000 in merchandise from that flash mob robbery.

Anyone with information on the flash mob robbery is encouraged to send an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.lacrimestoppers.org.

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Video captures 'flash mob' of burglars swarming Nordstrom in Southern California mall www.youtube.com


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'They're just sick of it': 6 smash-and-grab crooks hit jewelry center, but tenants — some of whom 'feed three families' — fight back to defend livelihoods



Six black-clad crooks attempted a smash-and-grab robbery at a downtown Los Angeles jewelry center last week, but the tenants — some of whom "feed three families" — weren't having it and fought back against the robbers to defend their livelihoods, KCBS-TV reported.

What are the details?

Surveillance video caught the mayhem during last Tuesday's attempted robbery at St. Vincent Jewelry Center, but the station said tenants fought back, using display cases as barriers and throwing objects at the would-be robbers.

"The majority of our tenants have the kind of glass that you can't break, so [the robbers] were not successful," Nejdeh Avedian, general manager of the center, told KCBS.

A security guard detained one of the suspects in a nearby parking lot, after which police took the suspect into custody, the station said.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

'They're just sick of it'

Avedian told KCBS the majority of his tenants are from other countries and put their entire livelihoods on the line for the jewelry they're selling — which Avedian said explains why they fought back.

"You know what?" he added to the station. "I think they're just sick of it."

Image source: YouTube screenshot

Avedian explained to KCBS that "some of these tenants, they feed three families, so the grandfather, the father, and now the son — so they're not going to just sit there and let people take all this jewelry without doing anything about it."

The jewelry district was established in 1972, but Avedian told the station smash-and-grab robberies have been surging in the jewelry district in the last two years — presumably because consequences for getting caught are minimal.

"There's no repercussion for them," he noted to KCBS. "Their repercussion is, if they get caught, they go to jail; the next day, they're out walking around the streets. We want police to help us, and they are. We're setting up meetings with them. We've been discussing it with them. We just need more help from [Council District]14, from our council member, from our government, to help us with these types of things."

Group of suspects attempts smash-and-grab in LA's Jewelry District youtu.be

Anything else?

Councilman Kevin de León's office offered KCBS the following statement on the issue:

I have always said that a key strategy to combat these brazen acts of violence on our streets is increased foot and bike patrols in areas like Downtown LA. That's why I secured $2.5 million in LAPD overtime to be added for Downtown LA - so law enforcement has the resources to ensure officers are on the front lines, closely patrolling our streets and stopping crime before it happens. Without question, increased foot patrols are something that my constituents in Downtown LA had asked for, and this past July LAPD began using the resources I secured for its foot patrol units to tackle crime spikes and allocate resources where needed.

District attorney George Gascón's office released the following statement, the station added:

This is a very troubling crime. Robbery and attempted robbery are felonies. We are prosecuting felonies, including robberies, at the same rate as the previous administrations. Our charging rate for robberies have not changed from that of prior administrations.

If the police apprehend a person for a crime, the police can either give the person a citation to attend court on a date in the future, or they can set bail, and the person can pay to be released. This process happens BEFORE the case is presented to the District Attorney's office. If the police do not apprehend anyone, the case is never presented to our office. However, regardless of whether police apprehend a suspect, victims of crime can receive services from our office, including ... appropriate restitution for property loss.

If the person cannot afford bail, they appear [in] court, and the judge determines if they are released or preventatively detained.

VIDEO: San Francisco store owners fight back against teenage smash-and-grab robbers who use hammers as weapons. The crooks lose.



Owners of a San Francisco camera store fought back against a trio of teenage smash-and-grab robbers Monday — and even though the crooks used hammers in the fight, they all ran off apparently without any merchandise.

What are the details?

The teens walked into the Chinatown store around 3:20 p.m. and asked about the price of a camera, KPIX-TV reported, adding that they hung around for about three minutes and then departed.

The station said they returned about 30 minutes later — and weren't interested in a transaction.

“All of a sudden, they pulled out a hammer, and they started trying to smash the glass,” shop co-owner Sergio told KPIX.

Problem was, the cases behind the counter are plexiglass and wouldn’t break, the station said, adding that one glass countertop case did shatter.

Surveillance video shows one of the store owners grabbing what appears to be a bat or a rod, and he approaches the crooks, two of whom swing hammers at Sergio and the other co-owner.

“One of the guys up there is trying to hit my partner with a hammer,” Sergio told the station. “I run, and I try to grab a bat that I have. Try to protect myself and my business here.”

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @DionLimTV

KPIX said a neighboring business owner ran over to help and was hit in the head with a hammer, after which he needed 10 stitches.

“One of the guys, they put the pepper spray in my eyes,” Sergio added to the station. “The other guy is trying to hit me with a hammer, and I’m trying to protect myself.”

After about a minute the attempted robbery and hammer attack were over, KPIX said. Video shows the trio running out of the trashed store, apparently without any merchandise.

\ud835\udddb\ud835\uddf6\ud835\ude01 \ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfb \ud835\udddb\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddf1 \ud835\uddea/\ud835\udddb\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddfa\ud835\uddfa\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddff, \ud835\udde3\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddfd\ud835\uddfd\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddff \ud835\udde6\ud835\uddfd\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddee\ud835\ude06\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddf1 \ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfb \ud835\uddd6\ud835\uddf5\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddee\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude04\ud835\uddfb \ud835\udde5\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddef\ud835\uddef\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddff\ud835\ude06:\n\u2800\nA camera shop was targeted in a robbery Mon around 4pm.\n\u2800\n3 people enter, 1 uses a hammer to smash a glass case.\n\u2800\nA store employee approaches, gets pepper sprayed (1/4)pic.twitter.com/PWKn77BfR6
— Dion Lim (@Dion Lim) 1647992761

The station said the store co-owners have been in the camera business for 27 years, but now they're nervous about coming in to work.

"We don’t know them – but they know us because we work over here seven days a week," Ariel, the other co-owner, told KPIX.

Sergio added to the station, "After this, I’m worried, and I’m scared – because God forbid if they come back. Hopefully they [are] not gonna come back. But if they come back with a gun, what happens?”

Anything else?

KPIX said groups — including the Chinatown Volunteer Coalition — were patrolling the streets Monday night, which is a common sight since the spike in anti-Asian attacks.

“They’re worried because the police might not be there in time," one of the volunteers, who declined to share his name for privacy reasons, told the station. "Even when they are there, they don’t know what could be done."

KPIX said the volunteer explained that robbers often pretend to be interested in an item at first and then return later with bad intentions.

“Sometimes people are deterred just by seeing sheer numbers, so there have been cases where we have seen someone look like they were going to attack or do something that’s criminal, but because they saw us or other people around, they chose not to,” the volunteer added to the station. “Sometimes we have to yell.”