A Los Angeles business owner came out against Democrats he voted for after a group of thieves broke into his place of business on Wednesday.
Ryan Baggaley, owner of Delta Construction and Electric Co., took aim at Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom and said Democratic politicians have failed to protect business owners from crime in a Thursday interview with local Fox 11.
“This whole strip has been broken into, our neighbors have been broken into four times, these guys just got broken into two months ago,” Baggaley said, pointing across the street to fellow businesses. “What are we supposed to do? We’re a small construction company.”
Baggaley said he previously supported Democratic politicians, though questioned his decision as crime has increased.
“I voted for Karen Bass. I voted for Biden. I voted for Gavin Newsom. I’m sick of it,” Baggaley said. “At some point you have to give me a reason to vote for you again.”
“We just do our jobs, make a living, help our employees make a good living, and move on, but it’s really freaking difficult to survive,” Baggaley added.
Surveillance footage of Baggaley's business shows a car crashing through a gate outside his business accompanied by about 10 people who proceed to break into Delta Construction and Electric Co. According to the Los Angeles business owner, the car used to break through the business' gate was reportedly stolen from a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) impound yard. Police later identified the vehicle based on chalk markings on one of the vehicle's windows.
Baggaley estimated the thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of equipment and tools including music gear from Baggaley and his brother's previous band. The theft was recorded by Baggaley's Ring security system. Police were notified of the incident, though did not respond to the scene for two hours, the business owner said.
Authorities claimed they didn't "have anyone in the area," according to Baggaley's statement to local KTLA 5.
“We’re like, ‘Now it’s been 15 minutes, then it’s 20 minutes and they’re still not here,’" he added. "It just kept going and they didn’t respond for two hours.”
In August, Bass said the rise of organized crime in Los Angeles was "unacceptable" as the city launched a task force to combat retail theft and robberies committed by large groups of criminals.
“These are not victimless crimes,” said Bass at the time.
The task force will “aggressively investigate” incidents and hold the perpetrators “fully accountable," she added.
