Southern California restaurant owner blames transients for recent arson

Jas Kang
·2 min read
11

A restaurant owner in Sherman Oaks is thankful no one was hurt after multiple suspects deliberately started a fire in the dumpster outside the establishment.

The incident occurred on March 16 at Casa Vega, a popular neighborhood restaurant. Security footage shows the arsonists pouring an accelerant into the dumpster and lighting it on fire.

“The flames were about 10 feet high, right next to our grease trap,” owner Chstisty Vega told KTLA 5’s, Sandra Mitchell. “If they would have hit our grease trap, it would have been like a bomb explosion.”

Vega says the large amount of unhoused individuals in the area has led to a spike in crime.

“We have constant assaults by transients coming into the restaurant,” Vega said. “We had a busser stabbed coming into work, right in the driveway of Casa Vega.”

Business owners in the popular Ventura Boulevard neighborhood have contacted the city to help with the growing population of unhoused people.

Some locals are taking matters into their own hands, by starting a neighborhood watch group. Robert Tomlinson volunteers for the organization. He saw the fire on Saturday and acted quickly to ensure the blaze didn’t spread.

“I just happened to come upon the smoke column,” Tomlinson said. “Called 911 and got my extinguisher out.”

  • Security footage shows two suspects lit a dumpster on fire outside the Casa Vega restaurant in Sherman Oaks. The owner spoke with KTLA on March 18, 2024. (KTLA)
    Security footage shows two suspects lit a dumpster on fire outside the Casa Vega restaurant in Sherman Oaks. The owner spoke with KTLA on March 18, 2024. (KTLA)
  • Security footage shows the two suspects in an arson outside the Casa Vega restaurant in Sherman Oaks. Owners said that an increase in transient individuals in the area is leading to a spike in crime on March 18, 2024. (KTLA)
    Security footage shows the two suspects in an arson outside the Casa Vega restaurant in Sherman Oaks. Owners said that an increase in transient individuals in the area is leading to a spike in crime on March 18, 2024. (KTLA)
  • Security footage shows the two suspects fled after using an accelerant to start a fire in a dumpster located outside the Casa Vega restaurant in Sherman Oaks. This image was shared on March 18, 2024. (KTLA)
    Security footage shows the two suspects fled after using an accelerant to start a fire in a dumpster located outside the Casa Vega restaurant in Sherman Oaks. This image was shared on March 18, 2024. (KTLA)
  • Emergency crews arriving on scene to deal with a fire outside the Casa Vega restaurant. Two suspected arsonists were seen on security footage leaving the scene. The owner of the restaurant spoke with KTLA on March 18, 2024. (KTLA)
    Emergency crews arriving on scene to deal with a fire outside the Casa Vega restaurant. Two suspected arsonists were seen on security footage leaving the scene. The owner of the restaurant spoke with KTLA on March 18, 2024. (KTLA)
  • Security footage shows emergency crews dealing with a fire outside the Casa Vega restaurant. The owner spoke with KTLA on March 18, 2024. (KTLA)
    Security footage shows emergency crews dealing with a fire outside the Casa Vega restaurant. The owner spoke with KTLA on March 18, 2024. (KTLA)
  • The exterior of Casa Vega restaurant in Sherman Oaks where arsonists lit a fire. The owner spoke with KTLA on March 18, 2024. (KTLA)
    The exterior of Casa Vega restaurant in Sherman Oaks where arsonists lit a fire. The owner spoke with KTLA on March 18, 2024. (KTLA)

The blaze didn’t cause damage to the restaurant. But, Vega says that since her insurance company canceled her policy, she’s afraid that if incidents like this continue to occur, she could lose the 70-year-old restaurant.

“In LA the real victims of the homeless problem are the small businesses,” Vega said. “A lack of consequences, insurance companies are going to stop paying for it.”

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