Surveillance footage captured a burglary crew boldly using an electric saw to break into a pharmacy in Los Feliz.
Around 4 a.m. on Wednesday, three suspects approached R&D Pharmacy on Franklin Avenue.
They used an electric saw and a crowbar to smash the store’s glass entrance before cutting through the metal gate behind it.
The pharmacy’s owner, Roselyn Roque, said this was the second time her store had been targeted in just three weeks.
Despite securing her store every night with steel gates, an alarm system, motion detectors, chains, and padlocks, Roque said the suspects are undeterred.
As a pharmacist, Roque unfortunately knows what the thieves are after.
“Opiates and stimulants,” she said. “They have really high value on the streets.”
Her pharmacy has been targeted a total of three times over the past two years. Roque believes the suspects are the same individuals who attempted to burglarize the shop previously.
During Wednesday’s incident, the suspects’ getaway car was clearly captured on security cameras.
“There are three of them again, but they’re using two different cars,” Roque said. “We were able to identify the plate. They’re backing up with the plates on camera. Maybe they don’t care about being caught anymore.”
In all three attempted burglaries, however, the suspects were scared away by blaring security alarms and fled without stealing anything.
Roque is very worried about her safety while operating the store.
“I’m scared that they might come back when I’m here,” she said.
Although no merchandise was lost, the burglary crew still left behind significant damage, including broken security gates and front windows, which will be costly to replace.
“I’m kind of on my own,” she said. “I’ll have to do the best I can.”
Roque remains concerned because the suspects are still at large. She said Los Angeles police asked if she would press charges if the suspects were caught.
“I said, ‘Of course,'” Roque recalled. “If I can help another small business like mine to not go through something like this, then I’m going to do my part and keep the suspects off the streets.”
Anyone with information on the attempted burglary can call the LAPD at 1-877-527-3247.
