US riots: Fears organised looters are strategically leaving bricks out
There are fresh reports of looting breaking out in the US. It comes after “thousands” of people were seen streaming out of stores.
Renewed looting is taking place in some places in the United States, with the high-end Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles hit hard again.
Footage appears to show looters ransacking an art gallery.
It comes after hundreds of looters targeted a car dealership in San Leandro.
The Los Angeles Times reports nearly 80 cars were stolen, with some being driven out right in front of police.
Walmart, Home Depot and Costco were also hit hard.
Police said there were “hundreds of looters, if not thousands.”
Los Angeles: "art gallery on melrose being LOOTED!" -- via https://t.co/UL6STiz2wg pic.twitter.com/DPEtBhHxTK
— Memelord (@dailydigger19) June 4, 2020
It comes as videos surface of rocks and bricks being “strategically” placed around cities across the United States to allegedly make vandalism easier for looters.
Pallets and crates of bricks have been found unattended among protests areas in New York, Kansas City, Dallas and Fayetteville in North Carolina.
In the latest incident, New York Police Department Commissioner Dermot Shea posted a video of a cop cleaning up some crates of rocks.
“This is what our cops are up against: Organised looters, strategically placing caches of bricks & rocks at locations throughout NYC,” he wrote on Twitter.
This is what our cops are up against: Organized looters, strategically placing caches of bricks & rocks at locations throughout NYC. pic.twitter.com/HT317TjoqH
— Commissioner Shea (@NYPDShea) June 3, 2020
But a city councillor later tweeted that the rocks were construction debris.
“This is in my district,” Treyger wrote. “I went to the site. This construction debris was left near a construction site on Ave X in Gravesend.
“Could be evidence of a developer breaking law since phase 1 hasn’t begun, but there was no evidence of organised looting on X last night that I’m aware of.”
People claim in some videos that bricks have been left out for looters, while others said they’re for construction.
Locals in certain areas, however, say there are no construction sites nearby.
Kansas City Police confirmed the set ups were happening in some parts of the Missouri city.
We have learned of & discovered stashes of bricks and rocks in & around the Plaza and Westport to be used during a riot. If you see anything like this, you can text 911 and let us know so we can remove them. This keeps everyone safe and allows your voice to continue to be heard.
— kcpolice (@kcpolice) May 31, 2020
BBC News investigated one clip from Fayetteville in North Carolina and found the bricks had been in that location since at least May 24, the day before George Floyd was killed.
Protests continue across the US in response to Mr Floyd’s death.
All four police officers involved in Mr Floyd’s death had been charged, and the officer at the centre of the case is facing an upgraded charge of second-degree murder.
Protests have become increasingly violent, overshadowing peaceful demonstrators campaigning for the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
Arson, looting and vandalism are rampant, with businesses set alight, defaced and robbed and police vehicles left smouldering in the streets.
Australia’s $7 billion move amid ‘arms race’
Australia is spending billions on defence upgrades as it contests a regional “arms race”.
‘Dumpster fire’: Aussies turn on US expats
The US election is now just weeks away, and Aussies are “eating up” the drama. But what’s it really like for Americans Down Under?
Weird truth behind Trump Macca’s visit
Donald Trump has gone viral for popping up at a McDonald’s to cook fries and appear at the drive-through – but not all was as it appeared.