Los Angeles reeling from weekend of ‘dangerous’ street takeovers, racing as police crack down

Police are cracking down on street racing as major cities in parts of the country grapple with “dangerous” and illegal activity.

Los Angeles, California, residents began protesting over the weekend in a neighborhood where an upcoming episode of ‘Fast & Furious’ is about to be filmed, as residents brace for increased shopping street racing – a surge that occurs following each installment of the racing film franchise.

“Street racing kills. Track racing. Studio film,” protesters chanted, according to the Associated Press.

Street racing activity in the neighborhood and elsewhere in Los Angeles is nothing new. In the days leading up to Friday’s protest, the Los Angeles Police Department announced the release of dozens of citations related to street racing and several other arrests.

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“[T]he LAPD has joined several police departments across Southern California to combat and disrupt a growing and dangerous problem: street racing and takeovers,” the police department announced on Facebook. “The collaborative efforts of all those involved have had an impact and sent a message: we will not condone this illegal and often deadly behavior.”

On Aug. 20 and 21 alone, LAPD personnel issued 82 citations related to street racing and takeovers, the department said.

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Officers seized 34 vehicles and made 40 arrests, including one person wanted for attempted murder and another who had a “loaded ghost gun”, authorities said.

But Los Angeles isn’t the only major city struggling with such street crimes that have turned violent.

In ChicagoA woman was struck and killed while at a crosswalk early Sunday morning as two cars sped near Cicero Avenue and 65th Street, police said.

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And hundreds of people gathered at the intersection of Columbus and Wacker in the city’s downtown for a “street takeover” early Saturday, FOX 32 reported.

“People think it’s funny behavior,” the Chicago Police Superintendent said. David Brown said at a Monday press conference, according to FOX 32, “It’s very dangerous behavior on the part of these people, not just for the people doing the drag races but for the spectators.”

A different street takeover over the weekend turned into chaos as people threw objects, including bricks, and deployed fireworks at Chicago Police Department vehicles trying to disperse the crowd. Six CPD vehicles were reported damaged.

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Police seized seven vehicles and arrested nine people over the weekend. Brown added that investigators are looking for at least 22 other vehicles related to the weekend’s activities.

Emma Colton of Fox News contributed to this report.