Arcade owner hunts stolen games in homeless camp

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A determined California arcade owner took matters into his own hands, storming through a homeless encampment to recover his stolen merchandise after thieves ransacked his business during Thanksgiving.

The incident began when a woman, concealed in the attic of Extraordinaire Arcade in San Bernardino, let 18 accomplices inside. The group spent two nights pillaging the establishment, even making off with an entire X-Men arcade cabinet.

“There was an X-Men 4-player that was right there,” Luna told KTTV in Los Angeles. “They took a full-sized game right out the door. I have pictures and video of them dragging it out.”

The San Bernardino Police reportedly told Arcade owner Will Luna that they couldn't enter or move the tents of a homeless encampment whose inhabitants allegedly ransacked his business. But he could. And he did.

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The burglars didn’t stop at Luna’s arcade. They accessed the neighboring salon through the attic, though owner Teri Sandoval’s security measures prevented further theft.

“They dropped down, but I have double locks on each door,” said Salon Metro owner Teri Sandoval. “So, they were like caged animals. They couldn’t get back out once they got in, and I can speak through my security system. So, I [was] screaming at them, ‘The cops are on the way, you better get the heck out of here!'”

After identifying the culprits as residents of a nearby homeless camp through surveillance footage, Luna received a tip about his stolen goods’ location. When police declined to search the camp, citing homeless rights, Luna took action.

Although a homeless good Samaritan told police where Luna’s stolen equipment and merchandise were taken, the officers were powerless due to laws protecting “homeless rights.”

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“I said, ‘Why can’t you guys just move this s*** and go in there?’ They said, ‘We can’t.’ It violated homeless rights,” Luna told the New York Post. “I said, ‘I don’t give a f*** about how many rights they have. These people have my stuff.'”

Authorized by police to conduct his own search, Luna tore through the encampments, recovering gaming accessories and snacks, though his most valuable items, including PlayStation 5 consoles and the X-Men cabinet, remained missing.

The confrontation escalated when unknown individuals later set fire to Luna’s shop. “They’re f***ing with us hard now,” Luna remarked, suggesting an ongoing conflict.