LOS ANGELES — A pair of brazen break-ins during separate “street takeovers” over the weekend has renewed scrutiny on crime in Los Angeles, with authorities saying no arrests have been made in either incident.
KTLA reported Monday that two burglaries occurred less than two miles apart during two different takeovers — one at a pharmacy in Boyle Heights and another at a Jack in the Box in East Los Angeles.
Pharmacy Break-In Caught on Video
The first incident unfolded around 11 p.m. at Lorena Pharmacy, where surveillance and bystander footage showed suspects sawing through security bars at the store’s entrance before smashing glass and grabbing merchandise.
According to KTLA, police said about 100 people were in the area during the takeover, and as many as 10 individuals entered the store. Video posted to social media platform X appeared to show suspects leaving with baskets full of merchandise.
A local account, Kim “Katie” USA, shared footage of the pharmacy break-in on Sunday night, writing: “Street takeovers just hit the pharmacy. Sunday night at 10:57, about 100 people locked down Lorena Street and Whittier Boulevard in Boyle Heights, and while that circus ran, a crew sawed the security bars at Lorena Pharmacy, smashed the glass, and ran out with baskets of…”
Fast-Food Robbery 15 Minutes Later
Just 15 minutes later, burglars reportedly broke into a Jack in the Box in East Los Angeles and stole two cash registers, according to KTLA.
The outlet said no arrests have been made in either incident.
Real America’s Voice also posted video of one of the takeovers, showing a woman emerging from her home to find mobs of people in the streets and smoke filling the air as cars performed burnouts.
The video, captured by the woman on her front porch, was posted to X with the caption: “A California woman woke up to absolute CHAOS outside her home after a street takeover descended on her neighborhood.”
Street Takeovers Under Scrutiny
The weekend incidents are the latest in a series of disruptive and sometimes violent street takeovers in Los Angeles, where large crowds gather to perform dangerous stunts, block intersections, and at times engage in looting or vandalism.
Critics argue the city’s leaders have failed to curb the trend, pointing to a broader concern about public safety. The incidents come as Democrats — including Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass — face ongoing criticism over their handling of crime and homelessness in California.
Some observers were quick to draw comparisons to the devastating January 2025 wildfires, when fire hydrants reportedly lacked water as flames engulfed parts of Los Angeles. That controversy, along with the latest break-ins, has been cited by conservative commentators as evidence of failed leadership.
“Can we really expect Democrats to keep businesses and neighborhoods safe at this point?” one commentator wrote, echoing a sentiment expressed in coverage of the events.
Democrats Under Fire
The Western Journal, which originally reported the story, described the incidents as an example of “absolute chaos” unfolding in Los Angeles, arguing that California’s crime problems have become a source of national embarrassment.
The outlet also criticized Newsom’s leadership, saying the state has gone from a powerhouse of commerce and industry to one residents are fleeing in frustration.
As of this writing, neither Newsom’s office nor the Los Angeles Police Department had responded to requests for comment.
KTLA noted that police are investigating both break-ins, and authorities are reviewing video evidence in hopes of identifying suspects.
Source: www.thegatewaypundit.com — https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/separate-mobs-storm-pharmacy-fast-food-restaraunt-la/