Crimes Caught on Camera in Southern California

Published September 29, 2014 • Updated on December 12, 2019 at 2:46 pm

A collection of images reveal caught-on-camera crimes across Southern California.

139 photos

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The Placentia Police Department released a surveillance video photo on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, of a suspect who took a blowtorch to an ATM to try to break into it.

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Security cameras captured a shirtless man in a stolen ambulance as he stopped for cigarettes before a pursuit Sunday Dec. 16, 2018 that began in the Lake Elsinore area and continued into the high desert north of Los Angeles. Read more here.

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Security camera video shows a sheriff's department patrol car chasing a stolen ambulance Sunday Dec. 16, 2018 in a convenience store parking lot.

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A man in a construction vest is wanted in a robbery at an Anaheim doughnut shop.

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A man is caught on camera wearing a skull mask as he robs a Tam's Burgers restaurant in October 2018.

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This man is sought in a Thursday March 1, 2018 robbery at a Pico-Union laundromat. He can be seen on security camera video slashing the woman's neck before taking off with her purse and $20.

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A mob of cyclists robbed a small market on Jan. 28, 2018 in Pico Union.

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An armed robber dubbed the Penny Pincher Bandit appears to reach into the take-a-penny-leave-a-penny tray during a Canoga Park fuel station heist.

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Authorities are searching for criminals who they believe are the same three men responsible for a string of pharmacy robberies around Los Angeles. Story broadcast Monday Nov. 20, 2017.

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Police Tuesday sought the public's help in identifying a man who twice stole bottles of high-end wine from stores in Glendale. The thefts occurred on Oct. 12 at Mission Wine & Spirits at 708 S. Glendale Ave. and Mission Liquor at 825 W. Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale police say.

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Placentia police on Sunday released new photos in an effort to catch two armed suspects who stole Apple electronic devices valued at $60,000 from a Verizon store.

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"The Ghost" burglar was caught on camera in October 2017, allowing police to grab the first images of the criminal wanted in more than 40 San Fernando Valley break-ins.

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Police released this image of an armed man who robbed a Santa Ana income tax business on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017. He is believed to be behind a string of robberies in the area that began on April 19, 2017.

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Police were looking for the driver of a minivan that hit a bicyclist in August 2017, leaving him severely injured.

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Security cameras captured video of an armed robber Friday Aug. 4, 2017 at a Buena Park convenience store.

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A shootout on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017 between a customer and a store clerk was caught on camera,

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Riverside officials say they believe they've captured the man responsible for over 20 robberies in fast-food restaurants throughout Orange County. He was arrested Friday July 28, 2017 after crashing his vehicle in a gully at the end of a police pursuit.

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A man threw cans of Red Bull at an AM-PM mini-mart clerk in La Mirada Monday July 10, 2017 as a woman and two children left the store with cases of the energy drink. According to the clerk, the robbery started when a woman headed to the register with two young boys to distract him with questions about cigarettes.

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Irvine police released surveillance video of a man attempting to drag an employee of a Woodbury Town Center store by the hair into a storage room. The crime occurred Saturday June 17, 2017.

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Security camera images show a woman, identified by police as a former Southern California officer, disguised in a beard during a Danville bank robbery Tuesday May 23, 2017.

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Detectives with the Santa Ana Police Department released surveillance video on Wednesday, April 5, 2017, showing a suspect assault a store employee after his credit card was declined.

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Surveillance video shows the moments a white Ford van hit a motorcyclist, who later died at the hospital Friday, March 17, 2017. Police sought the driver of the van, who fled.

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Police searched for a woman Monday, March 13, 2017, who they say left her 2-year-old daughter in a Riverside Food 4 Less Sunday. The woman, Chiengkham Vilaysane, suspected of abandoning the toddler was arrested Tuesday, March 14, 2017.

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A man accused of snapping pictures up a woman's skirt at a Riverside Target was caught on camera Wednesday, March 1, 2017. Riverside police were trying to track him down after the victim said he pretended to shop before snapping the pictures up her skirt as she shopped with her young child. Read more here.

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Three men were responsible for back-to-back burglaries at two Irvine companies in February 2017 that netted them $500,000 in high-end sunglasses, headsets, laptops and virtual reality equipment. The thieves used a van to ram their way into a business.

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LA County Sheriff’s investigators believe these three women played on the kindness of a stranger in order to carjack him. Authorities released photos of the women Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2017, hoping somebody might recognize them and turn them in. The women caught on surveillance video in a Stevenson Ranch Mobil gas station Jan. 11 shows the women getting in the car with a man. Deputies said they played on his kindness by asking for a ride, then carjacked him at knifepoint.

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A man caught on camera breaking into a church school in Perris is though to be behind at least three burglaries where thousands worth in surveillance equipment disappeared, church members said Wednesday, Jan, 25, 2017. He was later caught on a local Target store's camera using a credit card stolen from the church.

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Police sought the public's help Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016, in identifying a rifle-wielding gunman who robbed two businesses in Santa Ana.

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An armed robber who entered an adult-themed store Wednesday Dec. 16, 2016 and demanded cash was chased off by two employees who lobbed sex toys at him.

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Security camera images show what appears to be a man trying to steal wind chimes from a Woodland Hills home.

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Montebello police released surveillance video of a man in a clown mask robbing a woman in a parking garage on Oct. 29, 2016.

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A robber wearing a curly-haired wig and women's sunglasses was captured on camera robbing two locations, in Corona and Chino, of Crown Gold Exchange on Friday, Dec. 9, 2016.

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A vandal was caught on camera spray painting a swastika on a building in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016.

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A police chase took a dangerous turn when the stolen vehicle narrowly missed park goers as it careened into an Anaheim skate park on Friday, Nov. 25, 2016.

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A woman was caught on camera etching hundreds of words onto a car for 7 hours.

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A Venice store owner fought off an armed robber in Monday in a rumble caught on camera. The store owner is hoping the release of the surveillance footage will catch the man, he said Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016.

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Whittier police were searching for a carjacker who rear-ended a man's vehicle and took off with his car while they exchanged information.

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Two men pretending to mull a jewelry purchase made off with two trays of engagement rings in Corona, police said Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016.

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Two women were caught on surveillance video stealing from a west Anaheim church during a Sunday service on Oct. 23, 2016.

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Surveillance video shows a suspected arsonist setting fire to a Riverside liquor store. The man and two others were arrested in connection with a string of arson fires committed at the store -- police found the owner of the competing store across the street paid two men to set fires to Sunny Liquor.

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Thieves take off with a safe from a Flame Broiler in Fullerton after smashing through the restaurant's glass door Friday Oct. 14, 2016.

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Police were searching for a man who punched a woman outside a Venice market on Sunday Sept. 25, 2016. The physical altercation was captured on surveillance footage.

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Authorities believe this man was behind two robberies this week, during which he left in this Toyota Tundra, police said on Thursday, Sept.1, 2016.

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A "polite" well-dressed robber was accused of holding up as many as 20 stores in the San Bernardino area, police said Wednesday, June 15, 2016.

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A white male with brown hair and multiple tattoos was caught on security footage entering an apartment complex parking lot in Huntington Beach and making off with two bikes and a barbecue early morning Wednesday, June 29, 2016.

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Surveillance video shows two women burglarizing a Glendale restaurant on May, 31, 2016.

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Three Santa Ana police officers who were part of a pot shop raid that was caught on surveillance cameras pleaded not guilty to petty theft charges Monday, June 21. 2016.

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Four men were arrested Thursday June 16, 2016 and charged with helping to plan and execute a series of smash-and-grab robberies targeting millions of dollars worth of Rolex and other high-end Swiss watches at retail stores across Southern California.

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A "well-dressed" and "polite" man stunned cashiers at a Circle K in Fontana when he robbed them, and police say the man may have done it 20 or so other times.

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Surveillance video captured three burglars smashing through a glass door and rummaging for goods at a pharmacy in Gardena on Thursday, June 9, 2016.

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Surveillance video caught a woman stealing packages from a home in Azusa on Friday, May 27, 2016.

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Thieves targeted a liquor store in for lotto tickets May 16, 2016, using a van and chain to pull the door off the Garden Grove business.

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Two suspected mail thieves were caught on camera emptying out mailboxes at a Sherman Oaks condominium complex. (Published Sunday, May 15, 2016).

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Two thieves were caught on camera Tuesday April 19, 2016 as they smashed jewelry store display windows and stole merchandise.

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A man was captured on surveillance video breaking into a storage area of the Taco Surf restaurant in Dana Point and taking off with $4 on Wednesday, March 30, 2016.

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A woman accused of stealing three statues from a Buddhist temple in Santa Ana about a year after vandalizing another temple was arrested on Friday, March, 18, 2016.

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Police were investigating after a man was caught on camera taking a custom guitar off the wall and walking out of Caveman Vintage Music in Chinatown on Saturday. (Published Sunday, March 13, 2016.)

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Police said they were searching for a man accused of breaking into cars in a Koreatown complex garage before stealing items Saturday, March 12, 2016.

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A man and woman were accused of scamming a victim out of $8,000 using an elaborate lottery scheme, Ventura police said Friday, March 11, 2016.

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A man trailed a woman in a Ralph's grocery store before following her home and assaulting her, police said Wednesday, March 2, 2016.

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The San Bernardino Police Department released this surveillance image of a man wearing a clown mask robbing an Arco gas station on Monday, Jan. 25, 2016.

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A robbery steals a bag of church offerings from a parishioner Jan. 12, 2016 at a Boyle Heights church.

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Authorities were searching for two men in connection with the theft of a canister used for collecting Christmas donations for children.

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Two hoverboards were stolen in a brazen robbery from a Monrovia toy store.

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Van Nuys residents were outraged after suspected thieves were caught on camera stealing mail.

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Two robbers armed with a shotgun hold up a Pizza Hut in Buena Park on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015.

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The San Bernardino Police Department released this surveillance image of a pickup truck suspected in a hit-and-run crash that killed a woman on the morning of Friday, Oct. 2, 2015.

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Police were searching for at least two men suspected of breaking into several homes and cars in the Palos Verdes Estates.

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Investigators are looking for any information on the identities of a team of burglars that broke into a home in La Canada-Flintridge.

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Benjamin Golden, left, was arrested in connection with an assault on an Uber driver in Newport Beach on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015.

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Police were investigating a break-in at at the San Bernardino Animal Control shelter on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2015.

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The so-called Skipper Bandit has robbed one bank and has attempted to rob three others in the San Fernando Valley.

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Two men are caught on camera burglarizing multiple offices in Topanga on Oct. 19, 2015.

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Surveillance footage captured a Corvette stolen from a Culver City dealership before leading the police on a pursuit ending in Riverside on Monday, Oct. 26, 2015.

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Two masked burglars broke into three Glendora businesses early morning Friday, Oct. 16, 2015.

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Police were searching for an armed robber who held up several stores in Inglewood.

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The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department released images of a man wanted in a string of armed robberies in East Los Angeles.

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A would-be burglar was caught on camera trying to break out of a Pomona Sprint store. Aired Oct. 2, 2015.

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29-year-old Demarrea Chante Barnes shown beating 83-year-old Tuyen Nguyen in a parking lot early in the morning on Friday, September 25, 2015.

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Authorities are searching for the man who slammed another man to ground, fracturing his skull, in a May 26, 2015 road rage attack that was caught on video.

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A thief runs off with Crest teeth whitening strips from a San Pedro Target store on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015.

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Police asked for the public's help on Wednesday, August 13, 2015 to identify this man police believe is responsible for stealing a fanny pack containing a NYPD police badge in Ojai.

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Three people suspected of stealing nearly $60,000 worth of high-end cosmetics from CVS stores in five counties were arrested after the crimes were caught on security cameras.

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A thief is seen on a baby monitor camera in a Huntington Beach home. This video was broadcast Friday Aug. 7, 2015 on Today in LA.

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The Placentia Police Department provided this security camera image of a masked man who robbed a Walgreen's pharmacy Wednesday July 29, 2015.

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A lifeguard was involved in an altercation Thursday July 30, 2015 at Venice Pier.

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Two teenage girls were suspected of stealing two puppies from a pet store in Compton Thursday, July 30, 2015.

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Police are looking for a woman caught on camera stealing a package off a porch. (July 31, 2015)

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Police were searching for three suspects who allegedly stole a wallet with about $1,000 and credit cards from an unsuspecting woman in Glendale on July 15, 2015.

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A burglar accidentally recorded footage of himself on a stolen iPhone after breaking into a Venice area home, police said on Thursday, July 16, 2015.

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Police are looking for a driver who was caught on a cell phone video driving backwards through the Hollywood hills, Melissa Etezadi reports for NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, 2015.

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A man armed with a soda attacks a store clerk June 11, 2015 in Madera, California before taking off with cash.

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Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is asking for information regarding two burglaries and an assault that occurred in March and April at Park La Brea Apartments.

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A store window is smashed Friday July 3, 2015 after crash-and-grab heists in which a vehicle smashed into two Long Beach businesses.

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A scrappy senior ended up on the floor as he fought with a teen mugger in Santa Ana Wednesday, July 2, 2015

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Police are asking for the public's help to identify the man responsible for robbing several churches in the Hacienda Heights and Rowland Heights areas on Thursday, July 2, 2015.

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Two men robbed a Shell Gas Station in Garden Grove on Monday, June 29, 2015. Garden Grove Police Department has asked for the public's help to identify these two men caught on surveillance camera.

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A man pumping gas is shown on surveillance video being attacked by another man with what police say appears to be a tire iron on Sunday, June 28, 2015.

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Ten people have been arrested in connection with a multimillion dollar jewelry heist in Koreatown, police said June 18, 2015.

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An armed robbery occurred as a Brinks employee was stocking an ATM with money April 24, 2015 in the drive-through service area of a Wells Fargo Bank on South Market Street in Inglewood.

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A thief holds a bag of cash during a holdup Monday June 8, 2015 at a convenience store near USC.

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Three children danced after throwing rocks through a church's windows before flooding it with a garden hose in Lake Elsinore Monday, June 1, 2015

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Authorities have arrested a man accused of terrorizing store owners in the Inland Empire during a string of caught-on-camera armed robberies.

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An armed robber covering his face with a bandana made off with $5,000 in cash from an El Torito Grill restaurant in Yorba Linda on Sunday, May 31, 2015, sheriff's officials said.

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Two people were caught on camera stealing an ATM machine Wednesday, May 27, 2015 by tying it to the back of a Chevy Silverado 3500 Dually and ripping it from its bolts near a 7-Eleven at 603 N. Sepulveda Blvd. in El Segundo.

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A quick-thinking Murrieta resident was able to capture on video a man who allegedly smashed a neighbor's car window and stole belongings. Tony Shin reports on May 27, 2015.

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Three armed robbers stormed a pawn shop in Azusa on Sunday, May 24, 2015, broke an employee's nose and made off with guns and jewelry, police said.

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LAX police used a Taser to subdue a man who had not been cooperating at an LAX screening area on Wednesday, May 20, 2015.

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A 16-year-old Garden Grover girl was startled to wake up with a home invader sitting on her bed on Friday, May 1, 2015.

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Deputies were looking for a man accused of stealing breast pumps from multiple Target stores in Los Angeles.

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A masked robber may have struck the same Victorville gas station three times in a month, investigators said Wednesday, April 22, 2015.

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This burglar who allegedly sexually assaulted a 7-year-old girl in her home is still on the loose almost a year later, police said Wednesday, April 15, 2015.

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Los Angeles Police Department detectives are looking for the burglar pictured in this video. His pants slipped down as he was stealing cigarette cartons at a gas station Wednesday, March 11, 2015.

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A break-in was captured on security camera video at a medical marijuana dispensary March 9, 2015.

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A tourist jumped into action to stop a robbery in progress by locking the suspect into a chokehold on Sunday, April 5, 2015.

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Surveillance video shows a burglar's wrecking-ball escape from an El Monte home on Tuesday, March 31, 2015.

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A still from surveillance video shows a man carjacking a woman at a West Hills gas station on Saturday, April 4, 2015.

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A 2-year-old girl believed to have been abducted in Gardena was found Thursday April 2, 2015 14 miles away in Cudahy after her kidnapper dropped her off, police said. Police sought this vehicle in connection with the crime.

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Surveillance video shows the moment of impact between a Ford Mustang and another car in a fatal crash during a suspected illegal street race in Gardena on Tuesday, March 31, 2015.

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Police reviewed fuel station surveillance video as part of the investigation into a robbery and attack on an 87-year-old man near the Rose Bowl Friday March 27, 2015.

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Surveillance footage from a nearby business shows two men walking along Maclay Avenue in San Fernando. One of the men can be seen slashing tires on parked cars. The tire slashing took place sometime between March 28 and March 30, police said.

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Police are looking for two men who came to the aid of an 82-year-old woman after a purse snatching in La Habra, investigators said March 30, 2015.

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An Orange County family was stunned to find a ski-mask-wearing burglar inside the master bedroom of their home on Tuesday, March 24, 2015.

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A 27-year-old waitress was injured Sunday, March 22, 2015, after four customers ran her over in a dine-and-dash, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Surveillance cameras captured the suspects leaving the restaurant.

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A suspected car arsonist was caught on surveillance camera in West Adams on March 23, 2015.

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Smash-and-grab burglars are caught on cameras Saturday March 14, 2015 at a Glendale optometry store.

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A homeowner watched helplessly on his security system as thieves broke into his Los Angeles house on Sunday, Mar. 1 2015.

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Burbank police believe this man is responsible for a mid-day home invasion in a quiet hillside neighborhood, making off with half a million dollars in cash. The two men police say are involved pleaded not guilty on Monday, March 16 to felony charges.

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An armed robber dressed as a doctor threatened to shoot a cashier during a failed heist in Signal Hill Friday Feb. 6, 2015.

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A cashier jumps on a counter as a man armed with a blow torch demands cash Jan. 18, 2015 at a La Crescenta liquor store.

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An intoxicated bike thief's getaway crash was captured on camera Thursday Jan. 1, 2015 in Huntington Beach.

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Police sought two gunmen, one wearing a gorilla mask and the other wearing a monkey mask, who stormed into a store in the Fairfax District and stole women's Nike Jordans.

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An armed thief pointed a gun at loss prevention officers before carjacking a man outside a Sears store in Crenshaw on Sept. 9, 2014.

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Surveillance footage at a Super Target in Murrieta captured a man and woman wanted in vacuum thefts, police said Monday, Oct. 13, 2014.

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Three thieves smashed a cell phone store window Monday Oct. 20, 2014 and used a bolt cutter in a burglary caught on camera in Garden Grove.

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Surveillance images depict a man believed to have robbed a US Bank in Garden Grove on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014.

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Video provided by the Orange County Sheriff's Department shows a liquor store heist Tuesday Oct. 14, 2014 in Stanton.

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In these surveillance video stills released by the FBI, the so-called "AK-47 Bandit" is seen robbing banks in the Western U.S. and Nebraska.

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