Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described the armed robbery of “Pretty Little Liars” actor Keegan Allen as “egregious” after the bloodied star urged her and Gov. Gavin Newsom to use California’s extensive surveillance-camera network to identify the men who attacked him.
Allen, 37, criticized the two Democratic officials Thursday night after he was held up at gunpoint and knifepoint outside a high-end grocery store in West Hollywood. He specifically questioned whether the disputed Flock camera system could help investigators locate the suspects.
“Let’s hope all these flock cameras that @karenbassla @gavinnewsom and everyone thinks will stop crime can find these very dangerous criminals. God bless,” Allen wrote in an Instagram post late Thursday.
The actor also posted security footage appearing to show the robbery. He said the confrontation left him bleeding and stripped of his watch, adding that West Hollywood was “not safe anymore.”
“My life for a watch,” Allen said.
Although the Los Angeles mayor’s office and the LAPD do not represent West Hollywood or hold jurisdiction there, both agencies play important roles in public safety across Los Angeles and the surrounding region.
“This is egregious — no one should have to experience something like this,” Bass’ office told The California Post. “West Hollywood is an independent city, and the LA County Sheriff’s Department is responsible for leading this investigation. LAPD, as always, will assist regional partners as needed to ensure bad actors are held accountable.”
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said deputies arrived at Laurel Supply at about 9:05 p.m. Thursday after receiving a robbery report.
Deputies found Allen at the scene. He told them that two men dressed in black had confronted him. According to his account, one suspect aimed a “silver handgun” at him while the other displayed a knife and demanded his watch and bracelet.
“Shortly after, the victim was struck in the face with the handgun. The suspects obtained the victim’s watch and fled the scene in an unknown vehicle,” the department told The Post.
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Allen sustained a “laceration to his forehead” but was not taken to a hospital after Los Angeles County Fire personnel evaluated him. He later said he sought medical care on his own and was “def concussed.”
It is not yet known whether detectives will rely on Flock cameras as part of the search for the robbers. The Sheriff’s Department declined to tell The California Post whether the technology would be used.
Flock cameras operate at locations throughout Los Angeles and West Hollywood.
The license-plate-reading system has become a major point of debate in California, where critics have raised privacy concerns and questioned whether its data is shared with federal immigration authorities.
Atlanta-based Flock has been accused of providing information to ICE to help locate illegal immigrants. The LAPD paused its agreement with the company in July as contract negotiations continued.
Bass has also voiced opposition to Flock. In August, she said the company had “lost the trust of Angelenos and residents across the country, especially in immigrant communities targeted by the federal administration.”
“There are many companies that provide this technology to cities nationwide,” Bass said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. “The LAPD needs to identify another company that doesn’t share data.”
Newsom vetoed legislation last year that would have limited law enforcement’s use of the data and imposed additional requirements for managing it.
Allen is best known for portraying Toby Cavanaugh on “Pretty Little Liars” from 2010 through 2017. He went on to play Liam Walker in the drama series “Walker” from 2021 to 2024 and most recently appeared this year in an episode of “The Rookie.”