Torrance cellphone business targeted by burglars 3 times

TORRANCE, Calif. (KABC) -- Police released surveillance photos of suspects accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of electronics from a cellphone business in Torrance.

Express Verizon Wireless, located on the 3700 block of Pacific Coast Highway, has only been open for six months, but it has already been targeted by burglars three times since December. Two of the burglaries occurred within one week.

Investigators say the suspects gained entry by smashing windows. They ransacked the place and took off with the stolen property.

In the first two burglaries, which happened on Dec. 8 and Dec. 15, the thieves took off with $20,000 worth of electronics, including iPhones and iPads. By the third burglary on Jan. 3, the suspects did not get anything because the owner did not keep inventory inside the store.

All the burglaries happened during overnight hours between 2:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. Investigators say the suspect vehicle was possibly an older four-door Nissan or Honda.

Police believe these may be the same suspects that are responsible for other break-ins at wireless stores in the area.

Anyone with information was asked to call Torrance police at (310) 328-3456.