Moment masked thugs loot California stores after 100 people seen loitering on the street

Masked burglars ransacked two Southern California businesses during separate street takeovers Sunday night, with one pharmacy hit after a crowd of roughly 100 people gathered in the area.

The first break-in happened around 11 p.m. at Lorena Pharmacy on the 3400 block of Whittier Boulevard in Boyle Heights, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to the California Post.

Video from the scene shows two suspects using a saw to cut their way into the pharmacy before allegedly grabbing baskets filled with merchandise and fleeing.

Police said about 100 people had gathered nearby for a street takeover, with as many as 10 people eventually entering the pharmacy.

Just minutes later, another business was targeted less than two miles away.

Around 11:15 p.m., officers responded to a Jack in the Box near South Downey Road and East Olympic Boulevard in East Los Angeles amid another street takeover.

Three suspects reportedly entered the restaurant, with two masked individuals allegedly making off with two cash registers, according to LAPD.

No arrests have been reported in either burglary, and police said no injuries were reported.

The incidents come as authorities investigate a string of burglaries connected to street takeovers across the Los Angeles area. Several AutoZone locations were also burglarized during similar events earlier this month.

The back-to-back break-ins are raising fresh concerns about large crowds gathering for illegal street takeovers and whether businesses are being targeted when police resources are pulled toward crowd and traffic control.

The investigation into both Sunday night burglaries remains ongoing.

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