Burglars Break Into Studio City Drone Store A Third Time

STUDIO CITY (CBSLA.com) — A Studio City drone store was burglarized Monday for the third time in three months. Tens of thousands of dollars worth of drones and other merchandise were stolen.

A security camera caught a group of burglars stealing goods from Drones Plus at 11376 Ventura Boulevard at about 3:30 a.m. Monday.

Store manager Justin Henderson said he can't believe it happened again. On July 19, thieves stole $7,000 worth of GoPro cameras. On Aug. 26, they took $20,000 worth of merchandise, he said.

The burglars got in by smashing the front windows. They were in and out within minutes. The owner spent $10,000 on reinforced steel bars, which did not deter the burglars.

In Monday's burglary, power tools and a blow torch were used to break into the store, which had updated its security measures since burglaries in July and August, said owner Mike Thorpe.

It took the thieves only 20 seconds to blast through the steel bars and made off with $35,000 worth of merchandise this time.

Henderson said: "If Studio City isn't safe, where do we open up in L.A.? We feel extremely violated." Henderson said he believes the same group of burglars, four men and one woman, is responsible for all three break-ins. The thieves speak only Spanish.

Merchants in the strip mall, where Drones Plus is located, said none of their stores had been broken into in the past 20 years until recently.

Henderson said the owner plans on hiring an armed guard to secure the store at night.