Los Angeles police have apprehended three individuals believed to be responsible for a series of burglaries that targeted a staggering 131 commercial businesses across Los Angeles County. The majority of these establishments were independent and family-owned restaurants, with a significant number serving Asian and Eastern cuisine. The suspects, who have been dubbed the “Punch Crew” by law enforcement, carried out their criminal activities between March and June 2023.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the Punch Crew employed a consistent modus operandi, systematically burglarizing multiple ethnic restaurants in a particular area before relocating to another part of the city. The stolen loot amounted to approximately $80,000, while the damages caused during the burglaries were estimated at around $160,000.
The identities of the arrested individuals have been disclosed by LAPD as 19-year-old Jacob Pugh from Lawndale, 25-year-old Kewon Stevenson from Los Angeles, and an unnamed juvenile. The trio came under the radar of law enforcement after targeting closed businesses in the San Fernando Valley area and neighboring cities.
Detectives from the North Hollywood Division identified the suspects based on their distinctive tactics, which involved using a sharp punch tool to shatter glass doors or windows of the targeted establishments. Once inside, they would seize cash registers, money, and electronic tablets. The Punch Crew employed various vehicles during their crime spree, including rented vehicles from multiple rental companies and car-sharing platforms.
The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office has filed 19 counts of commercial burglary against Pugh and Stevenson. Bail has been set at $975,000 for each of them. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are collaborating with the district attorney’s office to determine the filing status of the juvenile suspect.
The police have refrained from disclosing the names of the specific restaurants that fell victim to the Punch Crew’s burglaries. However, the impact of their actions has been felt keenly by the small, family-owned businesses that were targeted.
