A gang of thieves in the south los angeles it has become a stumbling block for taco vendors in this area.
The group robs small traders to deprive them of their profits. They assure that some of the members of this criminal gang are minors.
One of the most recent robberies occurred on Tuesday, March 28, at dawn, while the booth owners were storing equipment. It was the third time they had been robbed in a month.
A video has surfaced showing an apparent attack on a group of street workers in the city of Oakland. Yomara Lopez has the details.
“It’s practically daily bread,” says Carlos, who didn’t want to give his last name or show his face for fear of attackers.
For 10 years they have been selling tacos on Calle Florence. But, since last month, the burglaries have started.
“Yes, they arrived very violent,” says David. “They grab your shirts and (they tell you) ‘where’s the money?’ And they are there, with the guns, well”.
The victims specify that the thieves are between 15 and 18 years old. However, what caught their attention the most is that they are accompanied by a boy of about 8 years old.
“They are children. They bring a child between 8 and 10 years old,” says Carlos, another of the vendors.
“The oldest can be between 16 and 18 years old. There is no adult.”
A man is arrested attacking a fruit vendor’s stand in Woodland Hills, police say this is not the first time he has committed this act.
Several thefts have taken place on Florence Street. close to Gramercy Place, Crenshaw Boulevard and Normandie Avenue. Some vendors in the neighborhood agree that it is the same group of minors, of whom they are already afraid.
“Imagine, he shoots you and that’s already a risk,” says David. “They shoot you, then, if they want to, and you’re disabled or once they hit you in the forehead.”
The thieves flee in a car waiting for them in the distance. They leave with money and even everything they find.
“We have to work but you never know what can really happen,” said Carlos. who claims he works with fear.
The LAPD 77th Street station last month issued an alert about armed robberies against taqueros. By that date, four robberies had been reported in ten days.
Authorities are asking street vendors to report these incidents as they investigate them.