Robberies involving street vendors have increased by 20% across Los Angeles, police say

LOS ANGELES - Robberies involving street vendors have drastically increased throughout Los Angeles.  

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the city saw a 20% increase in food/street vendor robberies.  

One of the most hard-hit neighborhoods is South LA. As of July 8, there were a total of 18 reported robberies whereas last year this time there were only nine.  

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LAPD says the robberies have occurred both at night and in broad daylight; suspects have been armed in most cases. In addition to robberies, street vendors have also fallen victim to violent attacks and assaults.  

The LAPD has provided a list of safety tips for vendors to follow:  

• Do not openly display cash in an unsecured environment
• Pay attention to your surroundings
• Using debit cards and surveillance cameras are highly recommended
• Call 911 immediately if a robbery occurs
• Gather suspect vehicle description and license plate