Mob of 100 people break into bakery, decamp with cash, merchandise

A bakery shop in California, US, was ransacked and looted by a mob of 100 people during an illegal street takeover in the early hours of Tuesday.

The brazen act unfolded around 3 am (local time) when the mob gathered at a nearby intersection for a street takeover, where they were showing their cars and driving skills.

According to local media reports, the busy intersection is home to several other small businesses, as well as family homes, and even a pre-school.

The crowd then shifted their attention to the nearby Ruben's Bakery & Mexican Food store. The robbers then entered the bakery by repeatedly smashing a white Kia car into one of the building's sides.

Clips going viral showed suspects ransacking the store, where they allegedly took cash and merchandise, leaving behind considerable damage.

Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Capt. Melissa Ramirez in a statement said that among the items stolen included meat scales, meat, groceries and lotto tickets.

The owners of the bakery shop said they lost around $20,000 that was earned over the holiday period, and will also have to stomach repair costs from the damage.

The police officers who received calls for both the street takeover and the robbery, arrived at the scene only to find trash burning in the street and the front of the bakery smashed in. They also found burnt mattresses and Christmas trees.

So far, no one has been arrested as the crowd had fled the spot hours before the enforcement authorities showed up.

Meanwhile, the local politicians assured the residents of strict action against the accused, and a stern watch over any possible illegal street takeovers in the future.

“Ensuring the safety of businesses and residents in our city is our top priority,” Compton Democratic Mayor Emma Sharif said at a city council meeting Tuesday night, hours after the wild bakery break-in, reports New York Post outlet.

During the meeting, Sharif urged the city council members to implement an ordinance that would increase citations for those involved in street takeovers.

“We need to vote on this so that we can actually start implementing the changes that’s been made in the policy."

(With inputs from agencies)