Theft of Police Uniforms Stirs Fear of Impersonator

The theft of police uniforms and equipment from a Torrance law enforcement supply business last week has sparked worries that someone may use the stolen merchandise to pose as a peace officer.

“It’s kind of a scary thing when you think about it,” Torrance Police Sgt. Ron Traber said. “You have to assume at least there’s a possibility of (someone’s) impersonating law enforcement.”

About $4,000 worth of equipment, including five bulletproof vests, 19 canisters of tear gas, 12 flashlights, three security badges and an unknown number of police uniforms, were stolen from the Louis the Tailor supply store on 182nd Street sometime after it closed on Jan. 24 and the next morning.

Store Manager Carmen Likens, who said the company supplies uniforms and equipment to a number of South Bay police departments, said investigators discovered that the shop’s electricity and telephone service had been disconnected during the burglary.

“It was a shock,” Likens said. “(The burglars) knew exactly where they were going because none of the bulletproof vests were on display.”

The investigation is a top priority among Torrance detectives because of the possibility that the stolen items will be used by someone trying to impersonate a police officer, Traber said.

The loss of the uniforms are of particular concern because “all you have to do is put a badge and arm patches on them and you can look like any (officer) on the street,” Traber said.

Law enforcement officials have been wary about notifying the public of the burglary out of fear that “once we planted the seed that there’s a phony peace officer out there, people might not want to listen to a legitimate peace officer’s command,” said Lt. Robert Hudson of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lennox substation.

Hudson said people who are suspicious about the identity of a police officer should ask to see his identification.

“Real officers don’t mind showing it, particularly if it’s a non-confrontational situation where they’re coming to take a burglary report or something,” Hudson said.