Santa Monica: Struggling to stop looting spree, extend curfew through Monday morning

The looting spree is reported as dozens of cities in the US are gripped by mass protests following the death of black man George Floyd in Minneapolis, who died in police custody after a white officer kneeled on his neck.
June 01, 2020 | 07:20
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Looting broke out

santa monica struggling to stop looting spree extend curfew through monday morning
Photo from Twitter.

Looting took place in the Santa Monica neighborhood of Los Angeles amid ongoing protests against police brutality, forcing local officials to declare a curfew, RT reported from site.

santa monica struggling to stop looting spree extend curfew through monday morning
Wide-spread looting occurs in stores off Broadway as police attempt to clear a sit-in protest for the killing of George Floyd on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica on Sunday, May 31, 2020. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer of Daily News.)

Online videos show multiple instances of looting by hooded mob in Los Angeles. Goods from an Amazon truck have been apparently stolen by a large group of people, judging by one video. A Vans store and a Nordstrom store were among other targets for the opportunists.

According to Daily News, groups of looters could be spotted near the Santa Monica demonstration. They wore masks as they rushed Santa Monica Place and other stores near the Third Street Promenade.

Some came out carrying armfuls of merchandise, then got in to awaiting cars to flee, according to news helicopter footage and reports from the scene. There no reports of arrests for looting made Sunday.

Police cars blocked off the entrance to the Promenade, with officers stringing up police tape.

Nearby, several businesses — the Cheesecake Factory, Wells Fargo, Nordstrom and Tesla — blocked off their storefronts with chain link fences. Others boarded up their windows.

santa monica struggling to stop looting spree extend curfew through monday morning
Wide-spread looting occurs in stores off Broadway as police attempt to clear a sit-in protest for the killing of George Floyd on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica on Sunday, May 31, 2020. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

While NBC news reported that news helicopter footage showed people looting stores before being chased away by police. People also broke into a large mall, and then ran out with arms full of merchandise. There were reports that protesters condemned looters during the day, chanting "shame! shame!"

At least one car was seen leaving the scene of looting with its license plate covered, apparently so it could not be identified. When a passing bicyclist ripped the covering off, a man got out and punched him.

Santa Monica continues imposing curfew

The city of Santa Monica will shut down for a second night of curfewstarting at 4 PM today through 5:30 AM on Monday morning.

The city’s official Twitter account made the announcement. All Interstate 10 freeway ramps into the city will be shuttered, as will Pacific Coast Highway off-ramps. The tweet also warned, “Stay out of downtown Santa Monica” and referred readers to the official city website.

santa monica struggling to stop looting spree extend curfew through monday morning

The move by the beach community comes as Los Angeles continues its curfew starting at 8 PM tonight. West Hollywood is also under a curfew.

Earlier, Santa Monica officials said there was quiet in its community on Saturday night as protests roiled communities to its East.

“Our community remained largely peaceful and safe throughout the evening,” a city statement said early Sunday. “With the initiation of the curfew last night, our Santa Monica Police Department was present across all areas of our city. The Department responded immediately to one commercial burglary and to one broken window at a business. No arrests were made for violations of the curfew order.”

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