Two Buildings Rammed by Truck

A pickup truck rammed through the double glass doors of the Chinese Consulate in the 500 block of South Shatto Place on Sunday night, Los Angeles police said.

About 15 minutes later in Chinatown, a similar make truck smashed through the Bank of America branch office at Broadway and College Street.

Rampart Division Sgt. Tom Knopp said officers called in a report of the 9:45 p.m. incident at the consulate, but details were sketchy.

The impact apparently shattered the doors, but did no further damage. The pickup was seen speeding from the scene.

In Chinatown, after entering the bank on Broadway, the truck slammed into a counter, shattered a surveillance camera, knocked over several potted plants, and left tire scratch marks along the length of the floor, Central Division Sgt. Ed Wheelis said.

The truck finally exited the building through glass doors on College Street, the opposite side from where it entered, police said.

Witnesses described the bank intruder’s truck as a white, late model Ford pickup truck, Wheelis said.

Police said the driver “left in a hurry,” and that the bank vault and the cash boxes were not tampered with.

The driver was being sought for investigation of vandalism.