A routine day at a North Hollywood Laundry King turned into a crime scene when a masked man burst inside, tried to force workers to open the shop’s safe and sent the owner’s wife crashing to the floor, according to the owner. In the struggle, the suspect also shoved several customers aside, rattling everyone inside enough that someone quickly dialed 911. Police detained a suspect at the scene, but hours later the rows of machines were mostly quiet, and owner Varden Kostanian said the scare has left him rethinking how to keep his business safe.
Suspect Demanded Access To Safe, Wielded A Metal Pipe
According to NBC Los Angeles, the man walked into the laundromat with his face covered and demanded that employees open the safe while holding what officers later described as a metal pipe or rod. Surveillance footage reviewed by the station shows the suspect shoving laundry carts and customers as panic spreads, moments before the 911 call that led officers to move in and detain a suspect on the spot.
Owner Says He Was "Devastated" As Customers Stay Away
Varden Kostanian, who runs five Laundry King locations in the area, told Telemundo 52 that watching the video of his wife being shoved to the ground left him "devastated." He said regulars have been steering clear since the attempted robbery, leaving the store far quieter than usual. Kostanian explained that he already pays for a security guard from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and is now weighing whether to add round-the-clock protection, even though the added expense would be tough for the business.
LAPD Responded Quickly And Arrested A Suspect
Los Angeles Police Department officers arrived after the 911 call and arrested the suspected attacker at the scene, NBC Los Angeles reports. When the coverage first aired, authorities had not yet released the suspect’s identity or details about any formal charges.
Legal Implications
Telemundo 52 noted that investigators are expected to review surveillance footage and witness statements as they build the case, with any charging decisions ultimately resting with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. For now, Kostanian says his focus is on protecting his staff and customers while cooperating fully with detectives.
The owner told reporters he hopes anyone who saw the attack will speak with investigators so the business can recover and customers can feel safe coming back. The North Hollywood Division of the LAPD is handling the investigation.
