South Los Angeles man targeted twice by thieves in 1 day

Leanne Suter Image
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
South Los Angeles man targeted twice by thieves in 1 day
A South Los Angeles man was targeted by thieves twice in one day, and one of the brazen incidents was caught on surveillance video in the parking lot of a popular swap meet.

SOUTH LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A brazen armed robbery was caught on surveillance video as the gunman targeted a family in the parking lot of a popular swap meet in South Los Angeles.

"He didn't bother nobody else in the car. He just put the gun to my head and said, 'Take all of it off,' and I took it off and gave it to him," Andrew Jackson said.

The victim, who didn't want to appear on camera, says the suspect targeted him because of his jewelry. Jackson says the thief stole his Rolex watch, diamond ring and gold chain, which is worth more than $40,000.

The incident occurred at the Slauson Super Mall in the 1600 block of W. Slauson Avenue around 4:15 p.m. Monday.

Jackson and his girlfriend, Nikki, were in their car with their 3-year-old son when the suspect, whom they had seen inside the swap meet, ran up with a gun.

"I was just scared to death. I didn't know what to do. I was just like so scared," Nikki said.

The gunman ran off and jumped in a waiting car and fled. Jackson tried to follow the suspects, but they got away.

The dangerous drama, however, was just getting started. Another gunman was waiting for the couple when they arrived home in Wilmington.

"I don't have nothing. Somebody beat you to it, they already took it," Jackson said he told the armed gunman.

The victim says he had called police several days earlier after spotting the suspicious man parked outside his home, but he never thought he would be targeted by two different thieves in the same day -- both after the jewelry he so proudly wore.

"It was like a dream. I just couldn't believe this could be happening, maybe the first one, OK, but then the second one," Nikki said. "When I seen him coming, I was like, 'Oh my gosh!'"

No arrests have been made.