Popular brunch restaurant owner closes shop to hunt down stolen car

Jurni Rayne, the owner of the popular Los Angeles soul food brunch spot Gritz N Wafflez, closed down her business on Sunday to track down her car that was stolen during an early morning grocery run. Joy Benedict gets the latest.

[@justdevine864]

Good for her! I remember when she started her small business.

[@LoftisforTreasurer]

This lady is my new heroine... she oughta be mayor! I live 2500 miles away but will be in LA in September and nothing will keep me from spending money at her restaurant.

[@jurnirayne]

Thank you! You know I wouldn’t want to close on a SUNDAY! Honestly, if it wasn’t for the credit card fraud memo, I wouldn’t have even thought to have find the man

[@marchumphreys3865]

​@@jurnirayne well done you. People like you are awesome 😎 👍

[@cesarsalgadosalgado2199]

Bruh no wonder she's a great business owner cause she keeps her word and gets her work done no matter what obstacles she has in her way

[@theresehopkins1581]

What an amazingly heartwarming story!!! Thanks for covering it!!!❤😂🎉

[@marchumphreys3865]

Well done lady for standing up for getting your car back much respect

[@SpotTheBorgCat]

Hope she got her credit card back, as well.

[@jurnirayne]

Once I replied “n” they cancelled the cards.

[@pvt.2426]

She learned a lesson (a bit too late). Never leave your vehicle unlocked or running (even worse). The few seconds you saved or convenience enjoyed are far less the time, trouble, inconvenience, and potential legal liability you expose yourself to is not worth it.

[@Iceyfire12]

She got a Good Outcome though it could wayyyy Worse! At least she was smart to track it down!

[@DAndyLord]

@@Iceyfire12 It was probably not smart to track it down, she got lucky. Props to her for being awesome, but this could've easily been a tragedy.

[@whoami7721]

I worked with a guy who was dumb enough to leave his car running while he went into a convenience store for "just a minute". Well, his car was gone in 60 seconds. But, there's a happy ending to the story because the police found it three days later, with everything cleaned out of it, including the jack and tire iron. There was a guy driving it who said he bought the car for $500. This was a 2008 Toyota Matrix, in 2012,, so he must've been dumber than my coworker.

[@TBD3.0]

She got complacent.

[@bayers2319]

Lol the video clearly stated that she believed the car couldn’t be driven without the fob, which was on her. She didn’t get complacent and she’s not dumb-she was ill-informed and now knows better. Keep up.

[@kentpass]

She didn’t steal her car back she took her car back. You can’t steal something that you already own.

[@slyley5]

y'all don't expect to see reclaiming a carjacked vehicles frequently especially for that 1 lady made the heroic effort to take back her vehicle

[@Subliminalmessage78]

Thank goodness. No one is entitled to her car regardless of the car being on or off.

[@Darren...son4634]

Who leaves there's car running and walks away theses days

[@user-uj5ly1eq5n]

Well does it give a right for anyone to take a car that isn’t theirs

[@tellucas]

​@user-uj5ly1eq5n it doesn't. Also, there are reasons why you may leave the car on such as to provide heat or AC for an elderly passenger or in her case maybe to provide AC for perishables that are waiting to be transported

[@sbsk2526]

Especially in LA that’s a NO NO.. thieves are out all times of day, they do it for a living

[@draculastraphouse7863]

A pathetic idiot leaves their car running

[@phyllissalazar8344]

Someone trying to commit insurance fraud?

[@Iceyfire12]

Imagine if she took his dog! He’ll probably go Ravenous!

[@bnwo]

You can't steal your own car.

[@Megatron797]

She can get pulled over for it and with her being black they might shoot first. They love to pull us over at gunpoint.

[@fatbart8551]

I bet the car smelled great when she got it back!

[@dave9351]

Great human interest story ! God takes care of fools and babies indeed Glad this wonderful woman got her car back

[@supernova-gi1nc]

Nonchalantly come on 🐕 dog

[@5150Rockstar]

Every day is an adventure in LA😊

[@Whatnok]

More like a disgrace

[@Tiffany-hi5]

Do you live in California? So stfu

[@adtsproduction]

Bravo bravo proud of you, sometimes you have to take things into your own hands because sometimes I feel myself that they’re not there to help. Believe it or not I am retiring from law and theft is quite a few lower priority. Most calls are handled by priority. Since only like 19 or 20% of cars stolen or recovered they put you down on the list. But I was wondering if there’s anyway of getting that fingerprints. He has to be stopped.

[@commonsenseisntcommon1776]

At this point, how can anyone or any businesses stay in that crime ridden, poorly run, high cost State? I left 3 yrs ago and never looked back!

[@cashrjr23]

thanks

[@TBD3.0]

He saw an opportunity, he happened to be at the right place at the right time, though it was illegal.

[@MsRotorwings]

Wow. Well done! Great Detective work.

[@JamesAllmond]

Folks, do not EVER leave your car running when loading or unloading, take the keys with you.

[@rileypart1]

Lesson learned is never leave your keys or wallet or car running while dropping off food for your restaurant

[@VVSdiamond2008]

The fact that he did all of that and won’t face any consequences really makes me upset! I hate sharing this world with low life’s. 😤

[@openbox8265]

Oh, with Goscon in office, the car thief will just walk away

[@randytaylor6931]

Dude I never leave my car on or unlocked even if I’m going to the liquor store for a second. Locals know how crazy some people can be and in a flash they can take your whip.

[@philrabe910]

Dog walkers are habitual. I bet he's one of her neighbors.

[@episodebeats2817]

Daaaamn, thugs nowadays are up at 5AM😮

[@sbsk2526]

So all the charges he tried to charge got all declined?? Good for him. She should have followed the guy w/the dog and call the cops at the same time.. that way cops could have arrested and charge the guy!

[@trainwreck420ish]

Don't leave your keys in the ignition. Omg

[@TheSarah730]

That target store is at the corner of western and Hollywood Blvd

[@moozillamoo2109]

What is she going to do when she found the car thief driving her car? One of mu neighbors caught a robber breaking into his car, and the robber just told him to get lost. Exactly what is she planning to do?

[@bayers2319]

Planning? She did it. She took her car back from him 😂

[@Jhunt12303]

She should be a private detective on the side. Great work!!

[@dentalnovember]

I bet her insurance company is thankful.

[@kingblessdotcom4267]

Saw this on her ig yesterday and whew I felt bad. I went for brunch at 915 Sunday the morning this happened, she was closed and I almost left a bad review, now I’m going back to drop that big tip this week.

[@JESUSAVES-n9i]

I’ll be going to her restaurant for food looked like a good place ❤I’m her cousin 😂just kidding

[@bayers2319]

Good job Jurni…he obviously didn’t check to see where you’re really from 🗣️💪🏽😂

[@t8rtaught]

God taught her a lesson that day, "thou shall not leaveth car running while going insideth"

[@bombaybeach208]

Yeah, it could have turned out worse, blah blah but she did more than the police and the useless DA would have done. Good for her. I love when people are smart and proactive. Also, I have an airtag hidden in my car.

[@FierBarca1899]

How can a person steal something she owns?

[@Impozalla]

He know not to mess with a black woman.

[@E.70-i6l]

I mean who leaves the car on with door unlock in a public area 😂

[@athenashawnee729]

I have

[@brakeme1]

So this is where we’re at………?

[@thatonekid71]

Normal day in LA

[@stvargas69]

It wasnt stolen, it was wealth redistribution

[@anthony562]

Amen 🙏

[@spaceman1999]

Interesting, so now in California, LA, you can commit grand theft auto and credit card fraud and just walk away ??? Time to vote out these people who do not enforce the law !! Time for a new governor as well!!

[@fireluvr]

Isn’t it illegal to to leave ur car running

[@magnetohex703]

It's not illegal to leave a car running I'm telling you because I have a license and experience to drive a car what is illegal is leaving an actual key that controls the car in the ignition you're supposed to have a automatic shut-off wherever you are not the owner and you are attempting to drive off the car recognize that there is no specialized key in the ignition and the car would just shut off in the first 10 steps. But I tell you this her car insurance if they are watching the news they can just shut off her car insurance and not cover her and tell her to find a replacement only because she did this reckless endangerment where this thief could have killed some people trying to get away from the police. This is what happens when you are trying to get too many things done at the same time I'm more surprised as her being a business owner should definitely know that there's thieves that live among in the world I don't know maybe she should watch the news again she must have never lived in the hood because you never forget to lock your stuff up. 👈👏💯😐🙄😂

[@EuroGuy85]

She was taking tips from Seth Rogen before or what? Girl, lock yo car

[@zeke5491]

Crime is legal in California

[@DavidStarr-eg2kv]

Grits? Count me in 😅

[@successfulMillennial]

Usual suspect... whyte methy

[@michaelmatwijiw3045]

Perishables should be transported refrigerated just saying

[@danasmith858]

More likely someone she met on the dating app,

[@charlespiper9291]

Carjack Uasse brings diversity to the community

[@earlsimon8474]

Living in LA is like dying by a thousand cuts…

[@createinmeacleanheartohgod6871]

Was stolen by her fellow Black citizen.

[@andylawcc]

how dare you ;p

[@robbycole7047]

Bbc stays on your mayonnaise minds clearly that was as foreigner says, "a dirty Whyte boy". Even the dog was yt.

[@mikehutton3187]

Duuuuuh.

[@FlixCreEightR]

I would never own a car in LA.

[@DAndyLord]

Yeah, but because of her work, she's obliged.

[@madlyn792]

I would never go to LA.

[@davidstock2713]

Calif not worth level once was, level effort. Businesses closing, interest transitioned other available places. 1/3rd-1/2 price, 1/4th problems. Didnt think twice relocation future.

[@stevenmanchester2104]

i'm sorry. You NOW know to not leave your keys in the car and engine running???? WHere the F--- have you been for the last 30+ years lady????

[@dave9351]

Be nice, as this woman was trying to recapture the "Good-Old-Days", when you could leave your car running as you run in the store, your home unlocked and your dog off a leash... and was confronted with "progress"

[@episodebeats2817]

We all have human error moments but mistakes these days are much more costly than ever. The lady probably figured she was ok at 5AM & that thugs would be sleeping in late.

[@stephenw.9647]

Biden America, don't have kids or buy anything over 1.99😂

[@valevisa8429]

I vote democrat :)

[@archaeopteryx981]

Ah yes. I remember the good ol' days of Trump’s America, when you could leave your car running downtown and most definitely no one would ever take it.

[@stephenw.9647]

@@archaeopteryx981 Trump left 4 years ago, but the obsession😂

[@senilejoe7932]

Ebonica

[@DK-dr5hy]

The only reason why this is being covered on the news is because the victim is black.

[@phyllissalazar8344]

Yup, black privilege

[@kingblessdotcom4267]

@@phyllissalazar8344real question, why do you hate your, specifically you, life?

[@kingblessdotcom4267]

They just covered the new zelanders who were killed, was it bc they were foreign??

[@cashrjr23]

LAPD should hire her

[@magnetohex703]

You left your car running? How did she get to own a business?, i think she should give the business title and the car and her life to the thief. 😂 it seems like the thief is way more responsible than this business owner. LOL OMG 😂

[@phyllissalazar8344]

Probably a fake story to attract customers to the “grits n pigs feets” shop

[@kingblessdotcom4267]

I wish but I went at open yesterday for the first time and she was mysteriously closed..on another note..why do you hate your life and spend your time online hating life?

[@szsenyuk8887]

Did the thief get her house keys on the key ring she stupidly left in her running car? Stupid is as stupid does. 🙄🥸😂