The Los Angeles Police Department reported 17 gangs were involved in robberies among the city’s wealthiest.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the gangs are allegedly “sending out crews in multiple cars to find, follow and rob people driving high-end vehicles or wearing expensive jewelry,” citing law enforcement.
Suspects have reportedly been arrested in some cases only to be released from custody and commit more robberies.
The Times noted the findings come from a Los Angeles Police Department task force that came together at the end of last year to investigate the cause of a sudden spike in “follow-home,” or “follow-off,” robberies.
Capt. Jonathan Tippet said there were 165 of these robberies last year and 56 so far in 2022.
It was not made clear which gangs were responsible for the robberies.
Tippet reported that individuals allegedly connected with the Bloods and Crips have been identified as suspects, as the Times noted.
“There’s no chance or opportunity for these victims even to comply. They’re just running up to people and attacking them, whether that’s putting a gun in their face or punching them and beating on them,” Tippet said.
He added, “Pistol whipping them as well.”
More than a dozen Los Angeles gangs are targeting some of the city’s wealthiest residents in a new and aggressive manner, sending out crews in multiple cars to find, follow and rob people driving high-end vehicles or wearing expensive jewelry, police said.https://t.co/haJ5qiZ4BF
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) April 12, 2022
Tippet continued, “In my 34 years on the job, I’ve never seen anything like this.”
The Times explained most robberies took place in the police department’s “Hollywood Division, with 50, followed by 46 in the Wilshire Division and 40 in the Central Division, which includes downtown.”
Additionally, “The Pacific Division had 17, West L.A. 15, North Hollywood 14 and Topanga 11.”
In 23 cases, shots have been fired and two victims have been killed, according to Tippet.
The outlet pointed out the trend in robberies comes as homicides, shootings and armed robberies have remained on the rise since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In February it was reported that California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) approval rating declined as more residents of the state took issue with how he was handling crime and homelessness.
Roughly 48% of registered voters said they approve of Newsom’s overall performance as governor.