Target was among those stores in Natomas which closed early and barricaded its doors at the recommendation of law enforcement worried about looting. / Photo NatomasBuzz.com
BY BRANDY TUZON BOYD
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz
Updated 6:44 a.m. on June 1, 2020
At least three businesses suffered damage by looters late Sunday night in Natomas.
At about 11:30 p.m. dozens of suspects reportedly used vehicles to break through the glass doors and metal security panel at Best Buy located at 3690 North Freeway Boulevard. The store was looted and at least one suspect taken into custody by law enforcement, according to scanner traffic.
A short time later, law enforcement received a call for a break in at the Verizon store located nearby at 3635 North Freeway Boulevard. The windows of that store were reportedly broken, but the suspects did not gain entry into the business. At press time it was not know if any arrests had been made in that incident.
According to Sacramento Mayor Pro Temp Angelique Ashby, a break-in at Fry’s Electronics came in at about 1:21 a.m.
“It was another long night for Sacramento. Downtown, midtown and Arden bore the brunt of the looting and destruction,” said Ashby, who represents north Natomas on the city council. “There were other places hit as well, such as Best Buy and Fry’s Electronics in our area. The mutual aid from Elk Grove, Rocklin and and Roseville police departments did a good job responding and prevention further damage.”
“Today the council will consider taking additional steps to address the escalation of looting and property damage,” Ashby added.
Law enforcement was called to the Well Care Pharmacy on Northgate Boulevard after 1 a.m. and reported seeing several suspects on the scene. Reports also came in that the CVS Pharmacy and the Dollar Tree on Club Center Drive had been broken into.
Earlier in the day, businesses in the Natomas Marketplace shopping center on Truxel closed early at the advice of law enforcement concerned about potential looting. Walmart, which has been open until 8:30 p.m. on Sundays during the COVID-19 pandemic, was closed and its doors barricaded with shopping carts by 5 p.m.
The Target store in the Sacramento Gateway shopping complex, where Best Buy and Verizon are located, also closed early. Typically open until 9 p.m. on Sundays during the shelter-in-place order, customers in the store were advised to make their purchases and leave just before 5 p.m. Target doors were also barricaded with shopping carts.
Both stores planned to reopen for business today, June 1 during regular operating hours. Target employees, however, were reportedly told that store may continue to close early for their safety.
Other stores in the area, such as Walgreens, also closed abruptly on Sunday.
Police from Rocklin and Elk Grove were seen stationed at both shopping centers before dark but may have been called away to respond to reports of looting in downtown Sacramento.
Walmart was among those stores in Natomas which closed early and barricaded its doors at the recommendation of law enforcement worried about looting. / Photo NatomasBuzz.com
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