Compton bakery ransacked by mob from nearby street takeover
A massive investigation is underway in Compton after a mob of people participating in a nearby street takeover ransacked a bakery, resulting in tens of thousands of dollars of loss, the store's owner says.
The ordeal reportedly began when hundreds of people were gathered at a nearby street takeover at N. Santa Fe Avenue and El Segundo Boulevard early Tuesday, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies.
At around 2:30 a.m., however, the crowd shifted their attention to Ruben's Bakery & Mexican Food, located on N. Santa Fe Avenue.
Surveillance footage from outside the bakery shows a white Kia slamming into the entrance twice while in reverse, moments before dozens of people flood inside.
Cameras inside the store then show the suspects ransacking the business, where they allegedly took lottery tickets, cash and merchandise, leaving behind a massive mess and considerable damage.
Deputies, who received calls for both the street takeover and the robbery, arrived at the scene to find trash burning in the street and the front of the bakery smashed in. They also found burnt mattressed and Christmas trees.
No arrests were made, as the crowd scattered when law enforcement showed up.
Store employee Juan Chavez said Ruben's suffered hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.
Investigators say that the car used to ram the bakery's entrance was left behind, and they will perform a door knock with the registered owner to determine if it was stolen prior to the incident.
Cindi Enamorado and many other residents appeared at the Compton City Council meeting to express their frustration. Enamorado's brother died after he was hit by a driver who was allegedly leaving a street takeover in unincorporated Compton.
"Setting cars on fire, crashing into innocent victims," Enamorado said. "I don't know. None of that is waking anyone up."
Residents like Enamorado said that street takeovers have happened on a weekly basis for the last three years. Compton's Mayor Emma Sharif claimed the city has been working on an ordinance for months.
"We do hear them and that we are listening to them," Sharif said. "We do understand their concerns. We are working diligently to address those concerns."
