Toyota of Santa Monica employees returned to a destroyed dealership, dozens of cars vandalized and their workspaces ransacked.
One goal for protesters targeting areas of affluence like Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and Hollywood was to take the movement to places that normally wouldn’t see demonstrators. In other words, hit “them” where it hurts. But an unfortunate side effect is rioters and looters using the cover of protest to hit stores, dealerships, and businesses as well, not connected to the cause.
One of the many stores hit in the Santa Monica area was Toyota and Lexus of Santa Monica. Dealership owner Sean Homayoun shared a sad post earlier this week (June 1, 2020) showing just how bad one of his dealerships got hit, using choice words, spelling out how he felt and who these rioters and looters are affecting.
Check out his gallery of photos below.
A quick search on Youtube brings up this small walk-by of Toyota of Santa Monica’s front lot. You can see a handful of Toyota Priuses windows and windshields smashed. In the gallery of photos, similar scenes of destruction played out, dozens of cars presumably suffering a similar amount of damage with windows smashed out and perhaps a couple of dented doors.
Leaving their calling card, looters also ransacked offices, workspaces, and desktop computers alike. Maybe they were looking for keyfobs to start some cars to drive off in, an unfortunate scene that played out in other dealerships in the United States.
Sean pointed out that over 100 employees trying to provide for their families will be affected. Whatever profit there was on some of these brand-new cars, that money will offset the cost of repairs.
According to Toyota Parts Deal, OEM windshields for the Prius cost upwards of $500. Add in labor and you’re looking at a $1,000 job, a sizeable chunk of profit from each vehicle sold.
Rioters and looters think they’re affecting large corporations at a higher level by hitting these dealerships in affluent areas but really, they’re only hurting local families trying to stay afloat in these tumultuous economic times.
It’s a shame what these rioters and looters did and hopefully these car dealerships get on their feet soon enough.
