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Long Beach Hobby Shops Targeted By Thieves Join Forces To Prevent Future Robberies

LONG BEACH (CBSLA.com) — Hobby shop owners in Long Beach are joining forces to try to prevent thieves from targeting their businesses again.

According to Roger Hewson, who manages RC Street Shop on East Spring Street, his store has been robbed five times in the past two years and so have other hobby shops in the area.

In one incident, security video showed two men grabbing two toy cars worth $1,400 from his store before bolting out the back door.

Hewson said he was tired of falling victim over and over again. So he turned over to police the surveillance video and posted it on social media asking for the public's help to turn over the thieves.

"We want to let everybody know that is not the kind of stuff we tolerate, and we want to do everything we can to help the police catch these guys," Hewson said. "The profit we lose on a $1,400 sale would take us three months to recover. A lot of our customers, they save and they scrimp for a long time to buy something like this these guys stole."

Hewson knows Long Beach police have more serious crimes to investigate, which is why he appealed to the community for help.

"Maybe someone knows one of these guys. Maybe someone knows someone who knows them or recognizes them or sees them around or lives near them. Any kind of lead we can get to help the police out," Hewson added. "If we stop these guys from stealing from one more business, then we've done a good job."

Hewson said the two robbers got away in a Lincoln Town Car. If you recognize those men, call Long Beach police.

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