Local News in Brief : Merchant Who Hailed Patrol Is Robbed, Beaten Next Day

On Wednesday, the owner of a Canoga Park liquor store spoke of how he felt more secure because of a foot-patrol program recently initiated by the Los Angeles Police Department. On Thursday, he was robbed of at least $200 and beaten by two men, police said.

Police spokesman Jack Krueger said Joong Kim, the owner of the West End Liquor Store on Sherman Way, was attacked and beaten after he shot at two men who came to rob his store at 6:50 p.m. One of the men was armed with a rifle, Krueger said, and the other stole Kim’s gun. The two stole Kim’s car after robbing the store, Krueger said.

Kim, who was not seriously injured, refused to be taken to a hospital, Krueger said.

Kim told a reporter Wednesday that a new police foot patrol had greatly reduced the dangers of robbery in a neighborhood where “we’ve had a lot of problems.” Krueger said police had no evidence that Kim’s comments prompted the robbery.