LOS ANGELES COUNTY - The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department continues to make progress county-wide in both preventing and improving responses to street takeovers and the brazen crimes that the takeovers have recently elicited.
On Saturday, August 22, 2026, detectives assigned to the LASD Detective Division Street Racing Task Force conducted a targeted enforcement operation focusing on enforcement of illegally modified vehicles in multiple locations including Compton, Carson, Lakewood, East Los Angeles, and Lynwood where street racing and street takeover activity frequently occur. During the operation, deputies conducted enforcement stops; nineteen citations were issued for violations including illegal modifications, missing license plates, and unregistered vehicles; six arrests were made for reckless driving, exhibition of speed, driving with a suspended license, and evading a peace officer, and four vehicles were impounded for thirty days for reckless driving, exhibition of speed, and suspended license. Detectives assigned to the task force stated they will continue to aggressively enforce the law, combat these ongoing activities, and work to restore peace and safety to the communities the Department serves.
On Sunday, August 23, 2026, at approximately 11:15 PM, East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the intersection of Downey Road and Olympic Boulevard in the unincorporated area of East Los Angeles regarding a street takeover where approximately one hundred cars were present. Deputies along with the California Highway Patrol dispersed the vehicles westbound on Olympic Boulevard.
After the vehicles were dispersed, deputies discovered three masked males entered a restaurant on the 4200 block of Olympic Boulevard through the drive-thru window during the street takeover. One suspect simulated possessing a firearm in his waistband, which caused the employees to fear for their safety and flee into a locked office. The suspects took two cash registers containing an unknown amount of money and fled the location in an unknown direction. No employees were injured. No suspects have been identified or arrested at this time. East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Station Detectives are investigating this incident.
Organizers who advertise or promote these events online may also face criminal consequences. We remain steadfast in our efforts to identify and hold organizers and participants accountable through arrests, vehicle impounds, citations, and criminal prosecution. In addition, East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Station Special Assignment Team deputies have received specialized training from the California Highway Patrol and Detective Division -Taskforce for Regional Autotheft Prevention (TRAP) in recognizing illegal modifications on vehicles commonly present during vehicle takeovers and street racing operations. These vehicles are then cited and referred to the California Smog Check Referee Program, which provides specialized vehicle inspections regarding modified vehicle emissions inspections. East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Station has also shared its enforcement strategies with other Sheriff’s Department Patrol Stations by providing training and operational guidance to help expand successful street racing suppression effort throughout Los Angeles County.
The Department remains committed to protecting our community and addressing the dangers posed by illegal street racing and takeovers. Illegal street takeovers are not harmless entertainment; they often attract large crowds, reckless driving, illegal firearms, and other criminal activity that threaten the safety of our entire community. We continue to aggressively combat illegal street takeovers through proactive enforcement, intelligence-led operations, the use of drones and other technology, and strong partnerships with the California Highway Patrol, LAPD Street Takeover Taskforce, and other law enforcement partners. Together, we conduct coordinated enforcement operations targeting organizers, participants, spectators engaged in criminal activity, and vehicles used during illegal street racing and takeovers.
Beyond enforcement efforts, patrol stations have partnered with Sheriff's Information Bureau and utilized multiple social media platforms to educate the public and highlight our ongoing efforts to combat illegal street racing and vehicle takeovers. These social media posts serve as public service announcements and reinforce the Department's zero-tolerance approach to this dangerous and unlawful activity while deterring future violations through public awareness.
We encourage our community to be our partners in public safety by reporting planned street takeovers before they occur or contacting local law enforcement immediately if you witness one in progress. Timely reporting can help prevent injuries, protect lives, and stop these dangerous acts before they escalate.
Anyone with information regarding the incident above should contact the East Los Angeles Sheriff's Station at (323) 264-4151.
If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org
Forwarded by:
Sheriff's Information Bureau
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
211 West Temple Street,
Los Angeles California 90012
213-229-1700
http://www.lasd.org
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Robert G. Luna, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
