Two young riders tore through a busy Orange County Walmart on electric bikes, weaving dangerously through crowded aisles and nearly striking multiple customers before fleeing the scene ahead of responding deputies.
Sunday Chaos at Lake Forest Store
The incident unfolded around 1:40 p.m. Sunday at the Walmart located at 26502 Towne Center in Lake Forest. Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrived after multiple reports of juveniles riding e-bikes inside the store, but the pair had already disappeared by the time law enforcement reached the location. Sgt. Lizbeth Gwisdalla confirmed that witnesses reported the riders entered through a main entrance, raced through the shopping area, and exited through the garden center.
Shoppers described the riders weaving between customers and narrowly avoiding collisions. One witness told authorities the juveniles rode in and out of the store, almost hitting people as they navigated the aisles at high speed. Despite the reckless behavior, no injuries occurred and neither customers nor employees requested that deputies file a formal report about the incident.
Growing E-Bike Crisis Across Southern California
Law enforcement agencies throughout Southern California have intensified efforts to address dangerous electric bike activity in recent months. Authorities report increasing incidents involving riders performing risky stunts, large groups taking over public streets, and operators using electric bikes that legally require motorcycle licenses. The problem extends beyond retail disruptions to serious safety concerns affecting entire communities across the region.
A separate Lake Forest case in April resulted in criminal charges after a 14-year-old boy allegedly struck 81-year-old Ed Ashman while performing wheelies on an e-motorcycle. Ashman died from injuries sustained in the crash, and prosecutors charged the teenager’s mother in connection with the fatal incident. The case highlights the deadly potential of unsupervised juvenile riders operating powerful electric vehicles without proper training or oversight.
What This Means
Officials across Southern California are launching education campaigns targeting parents and young riders to reduce serious accidents. The efforts come as electric bikes become increasingly popular among teenagers but often lack the safety protocols and supervision associated with traditional motor vehicles. Parents face potential legal liability when their children cause injuries or property damage while operating e-bikes recklessly. The Walmart incident demonstrates how retail spaces have become new frontiers for enforcement challenges as electric bikes blur the lines between toys, transportation, and motorized vehicles requiring regulation.
I LIKE the guy on the scooter!
???
Citizens Clothesline One. Others Citizens Arrest. End Story.
DrDon
Get em riding through the sports section and hit em in the face with a baseball bat.
Can we assume “usual suspects”??
I agree with James and DrDon. If they go through the housewares department, clothesline them with robe belts or something, then use them to tie them up and wait for police. Parents who give their kids these ebikes, etc.. need to be charged as well, for aiding and abetting the delinquency of a minor. Back in the 80s, I was working as a security guard, and half of my posts were in retail settings. One kid came up to me and ratted out his friends. I heard other kids say that an adult told them it was okay to go into the store and steal stuff.I grew up in nearby El Toro, and saw Lake Forest being built. The house my family and I lived in is still there, though the value has increased ginormously–my parents bought our house for $40,000 in 1966, and when they sold it due to divorce–California is a community property state– it sold for $100,000. Last time I looked, it’s worth nearly $700,000. We added a sundeck, patio, and bricked over the backyard. I recently looked it up on HistoricAerials, and at some point after we sold it, they took out the bricks, tore out Mom’s rosebushes, our grape arbor, Mom’s umbrella-style clothesline and the citrus trees. We also had added a hobby room for Dad’s stamp collection. I know it’s theirs to do as they pleased with, but that was a lot of work to put all that in!