Los Angeles police are on the hunt for two men who brazenly stole an ATM in broad daylight. The theft took place on Thursday at the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Santee Street, right outside a clothing store called MariGold Dresses.
Surveillance footage captured the entire incident. A white SUV, driven by a masked individual, pulled up onto the sidewalk. A passenger, also masked, got out and quickly removed the ATM from its location. This happened while customers were present in the store, creating a tense atmosphere.
Zoila Barrales, the store owner, described the scene to local news outlet KTLA. She recalled how her employees rushed to get customers, including a family with a young child, inside the fitting rooms for safety. “You just never know,” she said, highlighting the fear that such incidents create in the community.
The video showed one of the suspects dressed in all black, entering the store after the SUV backed up to it. He returned to the vehicle shortly after, and they sped away.
This theft adds to the growing concern in downtown Los Angeles, where recent waves of vandalism and crime have left residents and business owners on edge. Barrales expressed that this incident only heightens the anxiety people feel about safety in the area.
Police are urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has cellphone or surveillance footage to come forward. Detectives are actively seeking evidence to help identify the suspects involved in this bold daytime heist.