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Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Police Hold News Conference After Street Robbery Spree in Hollywood

Police say the area is still safe after recent incidents related to protests in downtown and South Los Angeles over the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of 17- year-old Trayvon Martin.

This story was written by City News Service

Twelve people were behind bars today for allegedly joining with dozens of others in a rolling crime spree on the streets of Hollywood, taking purses, phones, jewelry and other items from pedestrians and stealing items from businesses.

The crime spree began around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. The initial call indicated that 15 to 17 men and women were robbing people around Hollywood Boulevard and Gower Street, according to Los Angeles police Officer Christopher No.

"They kept moving from location to location,'' No said.

Police said about 30 to 40 people were involved in the crime spree, with the perpetrators breaking into smaller groups. At least one of those groups wound up at the popular tourist destination of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, police said.

There were no reports of weapons being seen during the robberies.

Officers arrested 12 people -- 11 juveniles and one adult, said Lt. Ray Valois of the LAPD's Hollywood Station. Eleven of those arrested were booked on suspicion of robbery and one was booked on suspicion of receiving stolen property, he said.

In addition to robbing individuals' property, the suspects also took items from businesses, leaving a mess behind them as they went, Valois said.

One victim suffered a hand injury while being robbed of her cell phone, but she was not hospitalized, police said.

Police initially indicated the crime spree may have been related to recent protests over the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of Florida teen Trayvon Martin. LAPD Cmdr. Andrew Smith said at a mid-morning news conference the group was likely just taking advantage of the department's focus on the protests.

"What we're thinking is these youngsters took advantage of our redeployment of officers down to the Crenshaw district last night, and decided this would be a good night to come up to Hollywood and act a little crazy,'' Smith said.

City Councilman Mitch O'Farrell, who represents the area, insisted that the Hollywood area is still a safe area to visit, despite recent violent incidents -- including last night's robberies and last month's fatal stabbing of a woman, allegedly by a transient, near the Hollywood & Highland Center.

O'Farrell said he would be in Hollywood tonight with Mayor Eric Garcetti and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck to send a message that the area is safe.

Meanwhile, Smith said investigators were reviewing surveillance video from the various cameras positioned in the Hollywood area in hopes of identifying additional suspects in the crime spree.

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