Daylight follow-and-robbery hits Koreatown shopping mall parking lot

Concerns over public safety are rising in Los Angeles’ Koreatown after a Koreatown parking lot robbery occurred in broad daylight. In addition, counterfeit bill scams targeting Korean-owned businesses have resurfaced, heightening anxiety among residents and merchants.

According to footage released by ABC7, the robbery took place on the afternoon of February 3 in the parking lot of Rodeo Galleria Mall, near 8th Street and Western Avenue. The suspects waited in a white BMW before identifying a woman returning to her car after shopping.

The suspects’ vehicle pulled in directly behind the victim’s parked car. Moments later, a man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and a face mask exited the passenger side. He crouched as he approached. As the woman opened the driver’s door, the suspect suddenly opened the opposite passenger door and grabbed her bag. He immediately jumped back into the vehicle, which then fled the scene. The entire crime took less than 10 seconds.

The incident was fully captured by the victim’s dashboard camera. Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officials confirmed they are investigating the case. However, no arrests have been made yet.

A similar Koreatown parking lot robbery occurred last month. On January 18, a Korean senior was robbed in the parking lot of a Korean market while returning to her car after shopping. In that case, suspects also escaped in a waiting vehicle moments after the robbery.

In addition, counterfeit currency scams have reemerged across Koreatown. A Korean-owned Chinese restaurant near 8th Street recently reported an attempted scam involving a fake $100 bill.

According to the owner, a man believed to be in his early 30s placed a food order and requested change after handing over the bill. The owner sensed something was wrong and hesitated. The suspect then snatched the bill back and fled.

The owner said similar incidents had occurred in the past. He explained that scammers often target restaurants during peak hours, when staff are busiest. They aim to take advantage of confusion and leave quickly with cash.

Similar attempts were reported at nearby Korean restaurants. Business owners said the same suspect appeared to visit multiple locations using the same method.

As crimes continue across shopping centers, markets, and restaurants, residents are voicing growing frustration.

“I can’t believe robberies are happening in crowded parking lots in the middle of the day,” said Jae-eun Lee, a Koreatown resident. “I don’t know what the police have been doing while Koreatown has deteriorated like this.”

Crime data supports these concerns. According to Valley Alarm’s 2025 Los Angeles Crime Statistics Report, Koreatown recorded about 116 crimes per 1,000 residents, roughly 32% higher than the national average. The neighborhood ranks in the bottom 7% nationwide for safety.

Crime analysis platform CrimeGrade gave Koreatown an overall grade of D. Both violent and property crimes received D- ratings. Theft-related crimes were graded C, with an estimated annual social cost of $3.13 million.

BY HANKIL KANG  [kang.hankil@koreadaily.com]