Devastating aftermath of Newport Beach looting exposed after thugs went on crazed rampage

The devastating aftermath of Newport Beach’s Fourth of July carnage has been laid bare by a shocking report from the looted Pavilions store.

In a video filmed the morning after the incident, a TikTok user showed the cleared grocery store exterior, noting that cleanup was finished by 6:30 a.m. They warned that future troublemakers will face tripled fines if caught by police.

The forewarning followed a night of madness on the Newport Peninsula that began around 7 p.m. Saturday and saw more than 400 people arrested.

Fueled by viral social media trends, massive crowds surged onto West Balboa Boulevard and eventually looted the Pavilions store.

Additional footage from the night showed destruction, with aerial fireworks exploding close to packed crowds and an individual in a Spider-Man mask climbing a traffic light to lead “USA” chants.

Mounted police eventually moved in to disperse the beachside crowds, resulting in more than 400 arrests over a 36-hour period.

Authorities noted that the vast majority of those taken into custody were minors or out-of-town visitors.

One officer also suffered non-life-threatening injuries after being struck by a firework.

Ahead of the holiday, city officials rolled out a “Not in Newport” campaign warning visitors that authorities would have zero tolerance for public intoxication, illegal fireworks and other disruptive behavior.

Fines for violations committed in designated safety enhancement zones across West Newport Beach and the Peninsula were tripled through July 6.

Mayor Lauren Kleiman said the city has long experienced an influx of young visitors over the Fourth of July weekend, but believes social media has intensified the problem.

She said: “We always have an influx of visitors to the city for the Fourth of July. It’s been like that for many years, and there’s always kind of a big youth movement that has kind of ebbed and flowed.

“The last couple of years we’ve definitely seen an uptick, in particular kids from out of state. [It’s] not atypical, but I think that social media has really changed things.”

In a statement posted to Instagram, the Newport Beach Police Association applauded officers for their response, alleging that a “TikTok Takeover” had drawn agitators to the city.

“A large group of agitators invaded Newport Beach, spurred on by an alleged ‘TikTok Takeover,’” the association wrote in the Instagram post.

“These persons came to our city with the intent on causing harm, injury, and destruction, bringing harassment, disturbances, and mayhem.”

The association also said officers were at times outnumbered by as much as 500 to 1, praising their “courage, professionalism, and excellence” in restoring order and protecting the public during the holiday crowds.

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