The Los Angeles Police Department is significantly increasing patrols across the San Fernando Valley following a surge of home burglaries. Nine break-ins occurred in just ten days, prompting Mayor Karen Bass to direct additional police resources to combat the crime wave.
Key Takeaways
The Los Angeles Police Department is increasing patrols across the San Fernando Valley following a spike in home burglaries. Nine break-ins occurred in ten days, prompting Mayor Karen Bass to deploy additional police resources.
- LAPD adds high-visibility patrols including cruisers, mounted units, and air support
- Two suspects targeted homes in Westwood and Sherman Oaks within an hour of each other
- Burglaries concentrated near Ventura Boulevard with four break-ins within two miles
- Property crimes down 48% year-over-year despite recent surge
- Community expresses safety concerns amid ongoing investigations
Mayor Bass announced increased patrols along Ventura Boulevard on Friday, though two more burglaries were reported afterward. The LAPD is deploying 'high-visibility' patrols including officers in cruisers, mounted units, and air support across neighborhoods like North Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, Sylmar, Valley Village, Valley Glen, and Toluca Lake.
Police Chief Jim McDonnell emphasized the department's commitment to addressing the issue. "We all have zero tolerance for what is happening in the Valley," Bass stated during a news conference Monday afternoon. Despite budget constraints, LAPD will add specialized units and detectives from its metro division.
The recent spike comes amid broader crime trends in the area. While burglaries are down 48% year-over-year for the Valley Bureau according to Police Chief Jim McDonnell, four of the recent break-ins occurred within two miles of Ventura Boulevard with another about 3½ miles away. Notably, actor Dylan Sprouse encountered a trespasser at his Hollywood Hills home on Friday.
The burglaries have raised community concerns about safety. The owner of Neda Jewelry in Sherman Oaks told CBS News, "We are afraid. We can't sleep. Night to morning, we watch the camera.". Suspects attempted to break into a home on Noble Avenue in Sherman Oaks around 1:30 a.m., according to Fox News.
Police are searching for two burglary suspects who allegedly broke into a Westwood home and stole jewelry and designer handbags. About an hour later, the same suspects attempted to break into another home nine miles away in Sherman Oaks on Noble Avenue. Both incidents occurred after midnight with suspects dressed in dark clothing or black hoodies escaping in a white sedan.
Neighbor Chris Johnson reported seeing two men running from the Westwood home while shouting instructions to each other. A Louis Vuitton tote bag was left behind at that scene. The LAPD's elite Metropolitan Division is using advanced technology and coordinated intelligence to identify patterns and track suspects in these cases.
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