Robbers Steal Sledgehammers From Home Depot in Lakewood

A Home Depot employee is seen outside a store in Los Angeles, Calif., on March 17, 2015. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

LAKEWOOD, Calif.—Up to 20 men and boys stole sledgehammers and crowbars from The Home Depot at the Lakewood Center Mall Friday night, Nov. 26, prompting fears the tools will be used in smash-and-grab robberies.

At 7:46 p.m. Friday, approximately eight males entered the store, walked directly to the tool aisle, and stole various sledgehammers, crowbars, and hammers, said Miguel Meza, the deputy of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

Store employees told Fox11 the group of up to 20 males from 15 to 20 years old pulled up to the store in up to 10 cars, put on ski masks, and began stealing.

“We tried to stop them,” store employee Luis Romo told Fox11. “We closed the front entrance and they put their sledgehammers up and whoever got in the way, they were going to hurt them.”

The group threatened a customer, “but he got away,” Romo said.

The group possibly entered a red Mercedes-Benz with severe damage to the front of the vehicle to flee the scene, Meza said.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is seeking the public’s help for information leading to the arrests of the robbers involved in this crime.

Anyone with information about the robbery is encouraged to call the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station at 562-623-3500. Anonymous reports can be provided over the phone to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.