Thieves Target 7-Eleven Stores in Hollywood Area for Second Consecutive Week

In a brazen display of theft, a group of approximately 20 bicycling thieves ransacked three 7-Eleven stores in the Hollywood area of California within a span of 20 minutes on Friday night. This incident occurred just hours after Governor Gavin Newsom signed a significant legislative package aimed at combating retail theft. The first store, located at 7040 West Sunset Boulevard, was targeted shortly after 8 p.m., resulting in a broken window and stolen food and drink items. The Los Angeles Police Department reported that the group struck again at 8:22 p.m. at a second store on Santa Monica Boulevard, where they similarly shattered a window and made off with merchandise. Surveillance footage suggests that the suspects may be linked to previous thefts at other 7-Eleven locations in the area, raising concerns about a pattern of organized retail crime. California has seen a notable rise in shoplifting and related crimes, with a 22% increase in shoplifting from 2019 to 2022, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. The recent spate of smash-and-grab incidents has put pressure on local and state officials, particularly in light of the new bipartisan legislation signed by Newsom, which aims to impose stricter penalties on repeat offenders and allow for the aggregation of stolen goods to meet felony thresholds. Governor Newsom emphasized the significance of the new law, calling it the most substantial legislation to address property crime in modern California history. As law enforcement continues to investigate the recent thefts, the community remains on high alert for further incidents.