LOS ANGELES, CA - A group of thieves stole a car from a impound lot owned by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and then used it to crash it into a security gate at a construction business located in Glassell Park to then steal thousands of dollars in equipment and musical instruments.
According to FOX 11, the owner of Delta Construction & Electric Co., Aaron Baggaley, said that the suspects stole six of his family's guitars, studio microphones and construction tools. Speaking with Fox News Digital, Baggaley said that he and his three brothers run the family construction business that their father founded 50 years ago.
The company, which in the last two years has been burglarized multiple times, has steel gates and roll-down doors to help protect it from such incidents. Baggaley said that the company's Ring alarm system sent out an alert around 5:00 a.m. and that his wife called 911 six times in a 30-minute timeframe as he raced over to the warehouse.
He said that police arrived two hours later, blaming staffing shortages and having no available officers in the area to respond. He said, "They're saying, 'We don't have anyone in the area.' We're like, 'Now it's been 15 minutes, then it's 20 minutes and they're still not here. It just kept going and they didn't respond for two hours.'"
Baggaley said that he reported about 15 break-ins at his and his clients' properties over the past two years and blames political leaders for the delayed police response and lack of officers available to protect businesses and properties.
He said, "You guys aren't doing your job. That's the simple truth of the matter. People do not like the wild west. We keep 30 guys employed, trying to pay our taxes. The least I can ask is for some patrol in the area." The break-ins are costly and slows down production. Baggaley said he fears his business won't survive, adding, "We're a small business. We can't afford $100,000 in damage."
Baggaley demands that the current Democratic leaders take crime more seriously. He said, "I voted for Karen Bass. I voted for Biden. I voted for Gavin Newsom. I'm sick of it. It's like, at some point you have to give me a reason to vote for you again."
Recalling the damage done by the thieves, he said, "The rage that me and my brothers have. You work so hard just to survive and make a living, and oh, cool, you just bashed our whole building up." Video shows the thieves initially slamming through the wrong gate, blasting a hold through it. Then, one of the accomplices dressed in a hooded sweatshirt and unidentifiable, pointed down the street, telling the driver, 'Nah, over there, that gate.'"
The thieves took thousands of dollars in tools and also stole personal valuables that the brothers kept inside. Baggaley said that he estimates the total loss at over $100,000. Baggaley went on to criticize the "defund the police" movement, saying that while he believes it is important to hold bad cops accountable for their unjustifiable behavior, the majority of police on the street provide an important service for society.
He said, "I do want some action and want to say something and do something and vote for people who want to put policies in place to make it a more civilized country — where you can do your job and show up to work and make a living and not be constantly frustrated. I have to create security measures. We already fortify our building ... tall gates, fences, a security system, roll-downs and dead bolts on the front doors. What are we gonna do now?"
Baggaley said that he is a self-described fiscal conservative who leans liberal on social isses and tends to vote Democrat, but said that the current elected officials are too afraid of standing up to the most vocal acitivists with the most extreme views. He said, "If you gave me an alternative, I certainly would vote for them, if they made some sense."
He said that he has had enough of the "soft-on-crime" policies. Several businesses on the same strip as his construction company have been targets of burglary over the last few weeks, including four attacks on the business right next door. Baggaley said, "At some point, you look at it and you go, 'Why aren't there cops on the streets at this time?'"
According to FOX 11, the owner of Delta Construction & Electric Co., Aaron Baggaley, said that the suspects stole six of his family's guitars, studio microphones and construction tools. Speaking with Fox News Digital, Baggaley said that he and his three brothers run the family construction business that their father founded 50 years ago.
The company, which in the last two years has been burglarized multiple times, has steel gates and roll-down doors to help protect it from such incidents. Baggaley said that the company's Ring alarm system sent out an alert around 5:00 a.m. and that his wife called 911 six times in a 30-minute timeframe as he raced over to the warehouse.
He said that police arrived two hours later, blaming staffing shortages and having no available officers in the area to respond. He said, "They're saying, 'We don't have anyone in the area.' We're like, 'Now it's been 15 minutes, then it's 20 minutes and they're still not here. It just kept going and they didn't respond for two hours.'"
Baggaley said that he reported about 15 break-ins at his and his clients' properties over the past two years and blames political leaders for the delayed police response and lack of officers available to protect businesses and properties.
He said, "You guys aren't doing your job. That's the simple truth of the matter. People do not like the wild west. We keep 30 guys employed, trying to pay our taxes. The least I can ask is for some patrol in the area." The break-ins are costly and slows down production. Baggaley said he fears his business won't survive, adding, "We're a small business. We can't afford $100,000 in damage."
Baggaley demands that the current Democratic leaders take crime more seriously. He said, "I voted for Karen Bass. I voted for Biden. I voted for Gavin Newsom. I'm sick of it. It's like, at some point you have to give me a reason to vote for you again."
Recalling the damage done by the thieves, he said, "The rage that me and my brothers have. You work so hard just to survive and make a living, and oh, cool, you just bashed our whole building up." Video shows the thieves initially slamming through the wrong gate, blasting a hold through it. Then, one of the accomplices dressed in a hooded sweatshirt and unidentifiable, pointed down the street, telling the driver, 'Nah, over there, that gate.'"
The thieves took thousands of dollars in tools and also stole personal valuables that the brothers kept inside. Baggaley said that he estimates the total loss at over $100,000. Baggaley went on to criticize the "defund the police" movement, saying that while he believes it is important to hold bad cops accountable for their unjustifiable behavior, the majority of police on the street provide an important service for society.
He said, "I do want some action and want to say something and do something and vote for people who want to put policies in place to make it a more civilized country — where you can do your job and show up to work and make a living and not be constantly frustrated. I have to create security measures. We already fortify our building ... tall gates, fences, a security system, roll-downs and dead bolts on the front doors. What are we gonna do now?"
Baggaley said that he is a self-described fiscal conservative who leans liberal on social isses and tends to vote Democrat, but said that the current elected officials are too afraid of standing up to the most vocal acitivists with the most extreme views. He said, "If you gave me an alternative, I certainly would vote for them, if they made some sense."
He said that he has had enough of the "soft-on-crime" policies. Several businesses on the same strip as his construction company have been targets of burglary over the last few weeks, including four attacks on the business right next door. Baggaley said, "At some point, you look at it and you go, 'Why aren't there cops on the streets at this time?'"
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