Overview
- Surveillance video obtained by KABC shows dozens of cars gathered at Atlas Fuel in Bellflower on Monday early morning as masked people smashed the front door and rushed the convenience store, then dispersed when police sirens neared.
- The store’s lone worker first tried to scare the intruders away with a dustpan and broom and then closed a bulletproof partition as a masked person reached for the register.
- The owner and footage say the raid lasted about 30 to 60 seconds and included vandalism and an apparent attempt to take the ATM while thieves grabbed snacks, drinks and other merchandise.
- Authorities have increased patrols and set up a multiagency task force but investigators say large crowds, blocked intersections and rapid dispersal make witness ID and linking suspects to specific burglaries difficult.
- The Bellflower hit is one of several recent takeover-linked smash-and-grabs that have left small businesses facing lost inventory, property damage and pressure to board storefronts as owners demand swifter accountability.