Before sunrise Tuesday, a three-block stretch of Melrose Avenue in the Fairfax District looked more like a movie set than a shopping corridor, with glass everywhere and cash drawers ripped from their counters. Multiple small businesses were hit in a rapid smash-and-grab burglary spree just after 4 a.m., and by the time owners showed up for the morning shift, many were staring at busted-out windows and gutted registers. Los Angeles police set a perimeter, detained one person and went door to door looking for additional suspects and security footage.
The Los Angeles Police Department said several Melrose shops, including Milk Bar, NailBay and LALA’S Argentine Grill, were struck after an alarm at Milk Bar pulled officers to the block, according to FOX 11 Los Angeles. Investigators told FOX 11 Los Angeles that suspects grabbed a cash register, then used it like a battering ram on nearby storefronts before bolting with electronics and tills in a matter of seconds.
Video and Owners Describe Fast, Precise Grabs
Surveillance footage reviewed by local outlets shows two masked people sprinting up to NailBay, kicking through the glass and escaping with a cash register and an iMac, as reported by KABC. NailBay owner Ny Truong told FOX 11 Los Angeles, "Somebody got inside and they took the cash register, the iMac, and maybe more inside." Nearby owner Bert Song said his own security video captured someone hurling a register drawer at his door, and that the footage makes clear the hits are happening with unnerving speed.
Investigators See a Familiar Pattern
Detectives have not said whether the Melrose break-ins are tied to a larger crew, but similar smash-and-grab runs have been popping up across Los Angeles in recent months. A detailed report by the Los Angeles Times describes how organized theft rings recruit crews and choreograph quick, targeted raids, sometimes using social media or even drones to scope out potential targets. Those tactics help fuel rapid, multi-site burglaries that are tough for patrol officers to anticipate or interrupt in real time.
Police Request Tips
Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the LAPD. The department’s Media Relations page lists (213) 486-5910 and online options for anonymous tips. KABC reported that officers arrested one person after the perimeter was established, while at least one other suspect was believed to have gotten away. Detectives are continuing their investigation into who planned and carried out the Melrose smash-and-grab run.
