Bellflower Liquor Store Looted After Street Takeover in LA County

Key Takeaways

• Dozens of looters ransacked A-Z Market liquor store in Bellflower during a street takeover on Aug. 15, 2026.
• LASD found 100 to 150 vehicles blocking the intersection; damage and losses estimated near $30,000.
• Three people cut through security gate and window, then 30-40 others entered for about two minutes.
• No arrests have been made in the burglary; deputies issued citations for the street takeover.
• This marks the second consecutive weekend of business looting after street takeovers in LA County.

Dozens of looters ransacked a Bellflower liquor store during an early-morning street takeover on Saturday, Aug. 15, leaving owners with an estimated $30,000 in damage and losses. The incident is the latest in a troubling pattern of street takeovers turning into smash-and-grab crimes across Los Angeles County.

Authorities said Sunday, Aug. 16, that deputies were initially called to the 15100 block of Bellflower Boulevard after receiving a report that 20 to 30 people had broken into a business.

Street Takeover Reaches Bellflower Intersection

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies arrived at Bellflower and Somerset boulevards around 3:30 a.m. after reports of a break-in. They found 100 to 150 vehicles stopped along the roadway and within the intersection, blocking access to the business, with drivers performing donuts in the street. Inside the 15100 block of Bellflower Boulevard, the doors of A-Z Market were shattered and shelves were stripped.

Surveillance footage shows three people breaking the front window with power tools and cutting a security gate lock. About 30 to 40 others then entered and ransacked the store for about two minutes before blending into the crowd, according to sheriff's officials.

Video from OnScene TV, a freelance news organization, showed employees cleaning up at A-Z Market near the southwest corner of the intersection.

The owners said the looters trashed the counter and aisles, leaving the store in disarray.

Owners Devastated

Store owner Steven Abdullatif called the scene "crazy," saying he never expected it to happen to him. His relative Nathan Abdullatif said they built the business over 11 years, only to see it undone in 10 minutes. "It's just very sad, and it's hard to get over," he told NBC Los Angeles.

Second Weekend, Similar Crime

The Bellflower burglary came one week after two AutoZone stores in South and East Los Angeles were looted following street takeovers. The East LA location on Atlantic Boulevard was hit twice in two days. LASD has shared images of 27 suspects in connection with the East LA break-ins, but no arrests have been reported.

The pattern extended into the following night when a pharmacy in Boyle Heights was targeted during another street takeover. According to the LAPD Hollenbeck Division, the incident occurred around 11 p.m. Sunday at Farmacia Lorena, located at the intersection of Whittier Boulevard and Lorena Street. Surveillance video captured a group of suspects breaking into the business and making off with merchandise over a span of approximately 10 minutes. Authorities noted that the specific items and total value of the theft remain unknown, though reports indicate the pharmacy has been targeted in prior incidents. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the Boyle Heights robbery.

No Arrests Yet in Bellflower Case

Deputies issued multiple citations for the street takeover, but they could not connect anyone to the burglary. Investigators are reviewing surveillance video and asking the public for help identifying the three people who first broke in.

Local Context: A Countywide Issue

Bellflower is a city of about 76,000 residents in southeastern Los Angeles County. Street takeovers have been a recurring problem on county roads, often drawing dangerous crowds. This summer, several businesses have been caught in the crossfire, raising concerns about public safety and property damage.

Background

Street takeovers, also known as sideshows, involve large groups of drivers blocking intersections to perform stunts. In recent years, LA County officials have increased enforcement and introduced laws to impound vehicles and issue heavy fines. Still, the practice continues, and now shop owners are facing the fallout.

What's Next

The Abdullatifs are calling on investigators to take stronger action. They hope that public attention on the crime will lead to tips and eventually arrests. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.