A Los Angeles shopkeeper had evidently had enough of the crime plaguing his city and his business.
A video captured by a witness showed the moment a would-be thief was confronted by the store’s owner after allegedly trying to exit with merchandise.
“Never mess with Korean shopkeepers in Los Angeles. They know what’s up,” commentator Ian Miles Cheong wrote on X as he shared the video posted by another account.
Never mess with Korean shopkeepers in Los Angeles. They know what’s up. pic.twitter.com/13a3XXRj5T
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) December 31, 2023
The owner seemed to feel he had to take matters into his own hands amid the climate of crime in Los Angeles.
The video showed the heated confrontation as the alleged criminal tried to make it out the door while physically being prevented from doing so.
He’ll come back armed next time. Was he even arrested?
— MoronicHeadline (@MoronicHeadline) December 31, 2023
That’s not just a win for Korean shop owners it’s a win for the American dream!
— World Peace Movement (@darren_stallcup) December 31, 2023
Sometimes you just need to defend your place at all costs to maintain your livelihood.
— Bad Habits LV (@badhabitslv) January 1, 2024
And while the ethnic background of the criminal and victim shouldn’t factor in a clear case of attempted shoplifting, many who viewed the footage on social media remarked that the alleged thief obviously did not know his history, referring to the “rooftop Koreans” of the 1990s.
In the aftermath of the Rodney King riots of 1992, most of the destruction, looting, and damage was sustained by the Korean American community in the city’s Koreatown.
Did people forget where the term Rooftop Koreans came from?
— License To Breath (@License2Breathe) December 31, 2023
He apparently isn’t old enough to remember the early 90’s.
— Buksterlin (@andy_buksterlin) December 31, 2023
The struggle with the alleged shoplifter left the man with his pants down – literally.
Hard to run with your pants around your knees. Gotta forego the fashion when you be thieven.
— THE Suburban Jerk (@SuburbanJerk) December 31, 2023
Congrats, thief. Your cheeks just got put on display for the whole world to see.
Was it worth it for that bag of chips?
— Zucca Xerfantes (@xerfantes) December 31, 2023
Coulda done without that visual…
— MakeMineTexas (@TexasIsMine) December 31, 2023
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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