Crime & Safety

Superman, Darth Vader Witness a Smash-and-Grab

Unfortunately for the would-be thief, a TV news camera and Los Angeles police officers were also nearby.

Originally posted at 7 p.m. Feb. 11, 2014. Edited to add video.

A man who nonchalantly smashed out all but the windshield of a Los Angeles police car at the Hollywood & Highland complex and grabbed a computer inside was arrested today.

The crime happened about 1 p.m. as tourists walked along Hollywood Boulevard and entertainers dressed as movie characters, such as Superman and Darth Vader, looked on.

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The name of the man arrested was unavailable. He used a piece of metal pipe to break the windows, then leaned into the front seat, pulled out a laptop computer and walked a few feet away, where he opened the laptop and  started punching buttons.

Video shot by a KTLA camera crew showed police swarming the man after they were alerted to the crime.

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--City News Service


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