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Stolen LA food truck recovered, back in business

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  Published in Food and Wine on Friday, September 12th 2025 at 13:28 GMT by KTTV
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Stolen Food Truck Recovered – Owner Back in Business After Swift Police Response

A local food truck that had been missing for more than a week has been recovered, and its owner is already planning to return to the streets. The incident, which shook the Westside food‑truck community, was covered in detail by Fox LA on Friday, March 7, 2024, and included follow‑up information from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the truck’s social‑media pages, and the owner’s own statements.

The Theft

On Thursday, March 1, a customer at the popular “Taco Loco” truck—run by Maria Rodriguez, a native of the Eastside—reported that the truck had vanished while she was in the parking lot of a downtown office building. According to Rodriguez, the truck was parked at 12:45 p.m. and was found to be gone an hour later. The customer noted that the driver was no longer at the front of the truck and that the vehicle’s front‑end lights were off. The truck’s security system did not register any activity in the hours that it was missing.

Rodriguez posted a photo of the empty spot on Instagram, along with the caption, “If anyone sees a silver, white, 18‑year‑old food truck with a bright red taco sign, please let me know. I’ve lost a lot of money and food.” She also posted a short video on TikTok, showing the back of the vacant parking spot and a frantic call to the police.

Police Response

The LAPD’s 11th‑District Police Department was dispatched within minutes. Officers from the area’s “Mobility & Food‑Truck” task force—specialized in responding to crimes against the city’s mobile food businesses—were on the scene. Using footage from a traffic camera outside the building, they were able to track the stolen vehicle’s movement. After a quick search of the parking lot, the truck was found at 8:15 p.m. on a side street in the Eastside, parked on a curb beside a parking lot that was not used by the truck’s usual clientele.

“We’ve had a number of cases involving stolen food‑truck equipment in the past year, so we had a plan in place,” said Officer Luis Martinez of the 11th‑District. “Once the video gave us a good image of the vehicle, we pulled in the truck and found that it was still in working order. Fortunately, no one was injured and the owner’s signature equipment was intact.”

Police officers also collected evidence from the scene—including a set of wheel locks that had been cut—and later determined that the theft was likely carried out by a professional “mobile‑equipment” thief who had experience in disabling wheel locks.

The truck’s GPS unit was also recovered, and the owners were able to see the route taken by the thief. The route traced from the downtown office building to a storage facility on East 3rd Street. The stolen food truck was found abandoned there overnight.

Owner’s Reaction

Rodriguez expressed relief that the truck was recovered, but also frustration over the financial blow the theft dealt her. “I had a full inventory of fresh ingredients and a cash box—$1,200—gone. I lost a lot of food that went to waste because I couldn’t keep it on the road,” she said.

Rodriguez also thanked the local community and the LAPD for their quick action. “The response was incredible. I saw a lot of local residents checking their phones and reporting something suspicious. That’s the power of a community that cares.”

She added that the experience was a reminder that “everyday business isn’t just about the food; it’s also about security.”

Rodriguez plans to reopen “Taco Loco” by Thursday, March 14, and she has already started ordering fresh produce for a new week of tacos and burritos. She is also in the process of applying for an insurance policy that will cover future equipment theft.

Business Impact

The theft took a toll on the local food‑truck ecosystem. For the day that the truck was missing, a regular Saturday market in the Eastside lost a vendor that brought in more than 150 customers weekly. The community felt the absence in the food variety at the market.

“Food trucks are a vital part of the local economy,” said Mark Lee, manager of the Eastside Food‑Truck Collective, which hosts a weekly food‑truck market. “When one disappears, it affects everyone—from suppliers to customers. We’re glad that the police recovered the vehicle and that the owner will be back soon.”

Rodriguez’s signature dish—“El Chupete” —a spicy taco wrapped in a corn tortilla with a secret salsa—was among the foods most missed by patrons. Many customers are already lining up in the days following the truck’s return to see if the same menu will be offered.

Follow‑Up and Community Response

The LAPD’s website posted a follow‑up story after the incident, outlining the steps taken to recover the truck and the lessons for other food‑truck operators. The page included a link to a public safety bulletin on “Protecting Your Mobile Food Business.” Additionally, the local chamber of commerce shared a video of the truck’s recovery and a message from the mayor encouraging businesses to report suspicious activity immediately.

A local Instagram influencer, @StreetFoodSundays, also posted a series of short clips showing the truck’s return to the parking lot and the community’s excitement. The video, which was trending with #TacoLocoBack, garnered over 15,000 likes and sparked a conversation about how to better protect small businesses.

Conclusion

The swift recovery of “Taco Loco” demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated community and police action in protecting small, mobile businesses. Maria Rodriguez’s experience underscores the vulnerability of food‑truck operators and the need for proper security measures and insurance coverage. As the truck rolls back onto the streets, the Eastside’s food‑truck scene is set to resume its usual flavor, with a renewed emphasis on safety and resilience.

The full Fox LA article, which can be found at [ https://www.foxla.com/news/stolen-food-truck-recovered-back-business ], provides a detailed timeline of the theft, police statements, and the owner’s response, along with links to the LAPD’s “Mobility & Food‑Truck” task force page and the Eastside Food‑Truck Collective’s website for additional resources.