A large group looted a Bellflower gas station convenience store early Monday after smashing through the front door during a street takeover.

Video shared exclusively with Eyewitness News showed dozens of cars gathered around the pumps at Atlas Fuel at about 2:30 a.m., with vehicles spilling onto Artesia Boulevard. In a nearby intersection, cars spun in circles while fireworks were set off.

Minutes later, multiple people with their faces covered and wearing hoodies approached the convenience store entrance. One of them smashed through the glass door using a sledgehammer.

Once inside, masked individuals rushed into the store, taking merchandise.

The store's lone employee initially attempted to stop the intruders using a dustpan and broom before retreating behind a bulletproof partition for safety. Surveillance video showed the employee closing the partition as a masked person attempted to reach the register.

The owner, who asked not to be identified for safety reasons, said he watched the incident unfold on surveillance footage.

"Their plan was to vandalize everything inside the store. They tried to take the ATM. Everything happened in 30 seconds or one minute and then they left," the owner said.

The group dispersed when police sirens could be heard approaching.

The incident was one of about a half-dozen street takeover-related looting incidents reported in the area in recent weeks. About two weeks ago, a crowd looted a Bellflower liquor store, causing thousands of dollars in damage.

Atlas Fuel is a longtime neighborhood business in Bellflower.

"This is a local business. They're just trying to make some money like us. So for them to come do these people's business like that, that was sad, disrespectful and disloyal," customer Kim Stinson said.

The owner said he is frustrated that business owners can face code enforcement actions for minor violations while those responsible for street takeovers and related crimes often avoid consequences. He said he wants those involved in the looting to be held responsible.

"We want them to go after these people and get them out of the street," the Atlas Fuel owner said. "That's all we want."