A robbery involving a firearm occurred in broad daylight at a popular shopping mall in Koreatown, Los Angeles. Around 12:40 p.m. on August 21, a Hispanic male suspect approached a Korean woman inside her car in the parking lot of the “City Center on 6th” shopping mall, located at 6th Street and Mariposa Avenue, and threatened her with a gun while demanding valuables.
When the suspect smashed the car window with the gun and attempted to seize her belongings, the victim resisted desperately, got out of the car, and fled. However, the suspect chased after her, snatched her bag, and then escaped the scene in a waiting vehicle. The bag reportedly contained a cellphone and other valuables.
The mall where the robbery occurred houses a large Korean supermarket, a bakery, restaurants, clothing and cosmetic stores, and various other Korean businesses. The incident is particularly concerning as it occurred during lunchtime, when many customers frequent the mall’s restaurants and supermarket.
A store owner in the mall said, “I have been doing business here for over 10 years, and this is the first time such a robbery has occurred in broad daylight,” expressing shock over the lack of security.
Just a week earlier, on August 15, at around 2:30 p.m. in broad daylight, a Korean woman was robbed in the parking lot of a Korean bank in Koreatown. Two Black suspects approached the victim, who was about to enter the bank, and fled after snatching her bag containing $13,000 in cash and checks.
The security situation in the LA area is deteriorating rapidly. Incidents of theft, murder, and armed robbery are occurring frequently, creating an atmosphere of lawlessness that has left residents feeling deeply insecure.
Korean-American victims are increasingly among those affected. In the past month alone, two Korean Americans lost their lives due to violent crimes. Tragically, these individuals were killed by assailants with whom they had no prior connection, making their deaths all the more heartbreaking.
They were victims of what are often referred to as “random attacks.” Nineteen-year-old Joonhee Han succumbed to injuries sustained after a brutal assault on the streets of LA’s Koreatown in broad daylight. Similarly, 44-year-old Chonghwan Yun was fatally beaten by a group of attackers in a park in Inglewood.
These crimes are becoming increasingly brazen, occurring at any time and in any place. Assaults and robberies are happening in broad daylight, and there have been numerous cases where large groups of people have swarmed businesses, overwhelming them with sheer numbers.
What is particularly frustrating is that, despite the prevalence of these crimes, there is little news of arrests. This reflects a troubling lack of law enforcement presence.
Amid a series of robbery incidents in the Los Angeles area, the number of suspect arrests by the Olympic Community Police Station, which oversees Koreatown, has reached its lowest level in five years. According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), there were 110 robbery cases in the Olympic station’s jurisdiction from January 1 to July 20 this year, a span of about seven months. However, only 41 suspects were arrested for robbery during this period.
Among the 21 LAPD divisions, eight, including the Olympic station, reported over 100 robbery cases. However, the Olympic station is the only one among them where fewer than 50 suspects were arrested. Considering the scale of crime occurrences, the Olympic station has recorded a relatively low arrest rate.
In light of the frequent crimes in Koreatown, the low number of arrests is raising concerns about public safety. Criminals are running rampant while the police seem unable to respond effectively.
The issue of public safety in the LA area has been repeatedly raised over time. Each time, the LAPD has pointed to staffing shortages and budget cuts as the reasons for their struggles. Despite presenting statistics that claim crime rates have decreased, residents’ real-life experiences suggest otherwise—there is a growing sense that public safety is deteriorating.
In light of these challenges, the appointment of a new LAPD Chief has been delayed, reportedly due to a higher-than-expected number of applicants. However, this seems like a poor excuse for inaction.
To address the worsening crime situation, it is crucial to expedite the selection of a new chief. Doing so could help shift the culture within the police department. Moreover, the new chief must be someone with the capability to combat crime and demonstrate strong leadership effectively. This is the first step towards reducing crime and alleviating the fears of the community.
By Mooyoung Lee lee.mooyoung@koreadaily.com
