Full Breakdown
Street Takeovers Spark Coordinated Burglaries at AutoZone and Bellflower Liquor Store
8/17/2026, 8:05:52 AM
Core Event
In early August, a series of illegal street takeovers in Los Angeles County escalated into coordinated burglaries. During two consecutive nights of a takeover near the intersection of Atlantic and Olympic boulevards, an AutoZone in East Los Angeles was broken into, its glass doors shattered, and merchandise stolen. The following weekend, a liquor store (A-Z Market) at Bellflower and Somerset boulevards was similarly ransacked amid a massive vehicle blockade. Law-enforcement agencies are now seeking public assistance to identify more than two dozen suspects linked to these incidents.
Background & Context
Street takeovers—informal gatherings where drivers perform donuts and rev their engines—have become a recurring public-safety issue in Los Angeles County. Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) have noted that such events can quickly devolve into looting and property damage when large crowds converge on commercial corridors.
Data & Statistics
- Suspects: LASD circulated photographs of 27 individuals believed to have participated in the AutoZone burglaries and released images of 16 additional people tied to the second night’s break-in.
- Vehicles: Approximately 100 to 150 cars were reported to have blocked the Bellflower intersection, creating a barrier for emergency responders.
- Damage Estimates: The Bellflower liquor store’s loss, including inventory and repairs, is estimated at roughly $30,000. AutoZone’s financial loss was described as “significant,” though no precise figure was provided.
- Timing: Video captured on August 9 shows participants rushing in and out of the AutoZone, with engines roaring and tires squealing.
Official Statements & Responses
The LASD described the AutoZone incidents as “coordinated, mob-like burglaries” and emphasized the danger of illegal street racing and takeovers. In a follow-up bulletin, deputies noted that the Bellflower burglary involved three individuals using power tools to break a window and cut a security gate, followed by 30 to 40 others who entered the store for about two minutes. Detectives have asked anyone with information to contact LASD at 562-623-3500 or submit tips via Crime Stoppers.
On-the-Ground Reports
Freelance video from OnScene TV documented shattered glass, empty shelves, and scattered debris inside the AutoZone after the break-ins. Surveillance footage from the Bellflower liquor store showed three perpetrators using power tools to breach the storefront, after which a larger crowd looted the premises before dispersing back into the surrounding takeover crowd.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Damage Valuation: While the Bellflower incident carries a specific estimate of $30,000, the AutoZone loss is described only as “significant” without a monetary figure.
- Suspect Counts: LASD released images of 27 suspects for the AutoZone events and 16 additional suspects for the second night, but it is unclear how many of the 27 overlap with the later 16.
- Connection to Other Burglaries: Reports mention a third AutoZone burglary in South Los Angeles on the same weekend, yet authorities have not confirmed whether the same individuals were involved.
What’s Next
The sheriff’s department continues to solicit tips from the public and has issued multiple citations related to the street takeovers. No arrests have been reported for the burglaries themselves, and investigators are relying on community assistance to advance the cases.
