Dozens of vandals in Northern California were caught on video looting a 7-Eleven convenience store earlier this month, authorities said Friday.
The chaos unfolded on Oct. 8 at the store on Elkhorn Boulevard in Rio Linda, just outside of Sacramento, after a nearby sideshow, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said. A sideshow is an illegal street racing event where drivers perform dangerous stunts like "donuts" and "burnouts" on public streets.
Surveillance video from inside the store shows individuals streaming through broken plate glass windows, rushing down aisles and jumping over the counter.
The mob was seen stealing cases of beer, cigarette cartons and other items from the store. Many of the individuals were seen covering their faces.
Since the looting was nonviolent, most suspects will receive citations instead of jail time if they are caught, sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Amar Gandhi told KXTV.
Cities in California, most notably Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay areas, have been plagued with smash-and-grab looters. Videos of the incidents have gone viral online and fueled critics who argue California takes too lax of an approach to crime.
Last month, state officials announced it will spend $267 million to help dozens of local law enforcement agencies increase patrols, buy surveillance equipment and conduct other activities aimed at cracking down on smash-and-grab robberies happening around the state.
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The investigation into the Sacramento 7-Eleven looting remains "very active," the sheriff's office said, adding that some of the individuals may be from the Bay Area.
A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for tips that lead to an arrest.
Authorities asked anyone with information about the incident to contact the sheriff’s office at (916) 874-5115 or the Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP (4357).
