South Gate : Looters Invited to Return Booty--No Questions Asked

People who looted stores during the recent riots may return their booty to the South Gate Police Department with no questions asked, officials said.

“We won’t sit down and question them. We’re giving them the opportunity to come here and drop off the property,” said Detective Doug Christ. Stolen merchandise will be returned to its owners, he said.

Police said looters who do not return property will be subject to arrest and prosecution. Christ said police have investigated 11 suspected looters, but no instances of theft have been found. One person turned out to be a swap meet vendor who had a lot of new merchandise, Christ said.

Officials said South Gate experienced only about six looting incidents during the riots, but there were reports of city residents bringing merchandise home from other areas.

In another development related to the rioting, Weatherby Sporting Goods said it lost 32 guns after 10 to 12 people drove a truck through the barred front door. The intruders drove away before police arrived a short time later. The company, which initially thought nothing was taken, said an inventory discovered that hunting rifles and shotguns were missing. None have been recovered.