After the Torrance Police Department warned the public about a planned youth “takeover” of a local mall, a second Los Angeles-area law enforcement agency issued a similar warning.
In a post to Instagram on Friday, the Carson Sheriff’s Station said it received information about a “disruptive youth gathering” planned for Saturday at the South Bay Pavilion, sometimes referred to as the Carson Mall.
The sheriff’s station had coordinated with the pavilion to be prepared for the potential gathering.
“Any unruly, unsafe, harmful or criminal behavior will not be tolerated,” the post read. “We ask that all persons of leadership, including guardians and parents, take time to talk to our youth about the harmful behavior these events can lead to.”
Long Beach Police intervened after a fight broke out among two juveniles at The Pike Outlets in Long Beach on March 16, 2024. (OC Hawk) 
Two females got into a fistfight at the Long Beach Pike Outlets as several hundred juveniles in the area arrived for a meetup. Long Beach Police broke up the fight and patrolled the area on March 16, 2024. (OC Hawk) 
Long Beach Police intervened after a fight broke out among two juveniles at The Pike Outlets in Long Beach on March 16, 2024. (OC Hawk) 
A disturbance involving a large crowd of juveniles shut down streets around the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance on Dec. 30, 2023. (OnScene.TV) 
A disturbance involving a large crowd of juveniles shut down streets around the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance on Dec. 30, 2023. (OnScene.TV) 
Long Beach Police intervened after a fight broke out among two juveniles at The Pike Outlets in Long Beach on March 16, 2024. (OC Hawk) 
A disturbance involving a large crowd of juveniles shut down streets around the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance on Dec. 30, 2023. (OnScene.TV) 
A disturbance involving a large crowd of juveniles shut down streets around the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance on Dec. 30, 2023. (OnScene.TV) 
A disturbance involving a large crowd of juveniles shut down streets around the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance on Dec. 30, 2023. (OnScene.TV) 
New video shows the chaos that erupted at Del Amo Fashion Center when a brawl involving teenagers sent shoppers fleeing. Aug. 27, 2023 (Wilmington Chronicles) 
Video captured good Samaritan Maurice Hardy (in a dark blue shirt) rescuing a boy from a violent brawl at the Del Amo Fashion Center on August 29, 2023. (Maurice Hardy) 
Police respond to activity at the Del Amo Fashion Mall in Torrance on Aug. 27, 2023. (OnScene.TV) 
Authorities respond after a violent brawl broke out at the Del Amo Fashion Center on August 29, 2023. (OnScene.TV) 
Video captured good Samaritan Maurice Hardy (in a dark blue shirt) rescuing a boy from a violent brawl at the Del Amo Fashion Center on August 29, 2023. (Maurice Hardy)
The reported gathering was similar to a potential planned “takeover” that Torrance police say was targeting the Del Amo Fashion Center on Saturday as well.
Late Saturday night, it appeared the public warnings, preparation and heightened patrols were able to dissuade any large gatherings or takeovers at either mall.
These takeover events, which usually build momentum through viral social media posts spread by teenagers, have resulted in violence throughout L.A. County in recent weeks and months.
At the Pike Outlets in Long Beach last week, a massive and planned fight broke out between two girls, resulting in multiple arrests. A boy was shot nearby, though police weren’t sure whether that was related to the violence at the outlets. He is expected to make a full recovery.
Beginning this month, the Del Amo Fashion Center implemented a controversial policy in response to these “takeovers.” Anytime after 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, all minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult older than 21.
Some teen visitors, however, found the new chaperone policy to be restrictive and made the mall experience stressful.
“We didn’t really think they would be enforcing this much,” said Max Bretos, a teen shopper who visited the Del Amo Fashion Center on Saturday. “I think especially because of the supposed takeover that was going to happen which was supposed to cause more chaos, but it’s really ruining it for the people who want to come here and have fun at the mall.”
Bretos and his three friends, all teenage boys, visited the mall to catch a movie on Saturday but were met with a new level of scrutiny they’d never encountered before.
“We were stopped by three different cops,” said Hugh Saetia, a teen visitor.
“It’s really a bad thing to have something like this happen in this neighborhood,” said Grayson Roberts, a local teen resident.
“They’re really taking over our community and I don’t know what to say anymore,” said Helen Bretos, a Torrance parent, of the disruptive mall takeovers. “I don’t know where to take [my children] anymore.”
