'Significant' Jump In Westside Home Burglaries
Posted by Daniel Antolin on Aug 11, 2011 - 1:38:19 AM
Information bulletin from West L.A. Community Police Station
WESTSIDE—On Wednesday, August 10, the West Los Angeles Area Community Police Station released an information bulletin relating that there has been a "significant increase" in home burglaries on the Westside north of Sunset Boulevard and two miles west and east of the 405 Freeway. This encompasses homes in Brentwood, Bel Air and Westwood.
Police report that the aforementioned burglary incidents involved suspects cutting window screens in order to gain entry and swipe jewelry, electronics and money.
In total, 10 homes were burglarized in these neighborhoods in the past two weeks.
Most recent of these incidents in Brentwood took place on August 4 at 1:45 p.m. at a home on the 800 block of Wellesley Avenue southeast of the nearby country club. Police are looking for a 50 to 55-year-old white male in connection to the crime who has gray hair, brown eyes, stands at 5 feet 10 inches and weighs 160 pounds. He was last seen driving a black over gray 2008 model Mini Cooper, police report.
Of the four Brentwood homes that police report were burglarized, one involved a suspect prying open the window of a home located on the 2400 block of Banyon Drive on July 27 at about 5 p.m. Suspects were able to hit two other homes because their doors were left unlocked and a window was smashed, respectively. In total, suspects took jewelry, an ID card, an unknown item and furniture from these four homes.
Bel Air experienced three recent home burglary incidents. One of these incidents took place on the half-mile 200 block of Ashdale Place on August 2 at 11:40 p.m.
According to a Bel-Air Association (BAA) blog post, a housekeeper, who was locking up the house for the evening, saw the man hiding inside when she went to lock a door left open for a pet dog to come and go. At the time of the sighting, the homeowners were upstairs in their bedroom. Thereafter, the man left the home. He was able to elude the police officers and helicopters who responded to the area.
Another Bel Air home burglary incident took place about four and a half miles away on the 900 block of Moraga Drive on August 1 during the early morning. A suspect was also reported by police to have stolen property from a vehicle there on July 23.
Man seen in backyard of Chalon Road home. Photo courtesy of West Los Angeles Area LAPD
A photo is included in the information bulletin of a suspect who entered a home by cutting a window screen. The photo was taken by a BAA member who was attending a John Thomas Dye School event on 11414 Chalon Road in Bel Air on May 26 at about 6:30 p.m. At the time, witnesses said that a black male wearing a light blue cap, black T-shirt and blue jeans was jumping the fence and entering the backyard of a home located about half a mile away on the 11300 block of the same street.
West L.A. Police Detective Allan White previously told Canyon News that the man jumped the same fence in order to leave the home's backyard after having been confronted by the home's owner, who was inside of the residence at the time. Thereafter, the owner reported to the BAA that the screen from one of the home's doors exhibited noticeable signs that someone had tried to cut it open.
Anyone who sees this individual is advised to call 911 or 877-ASK-LAPD.
"With the economy the way it is, things will not get better," the BAA blog post states. "It is important you get to know your neighbors and who belongs on your street."
"Be aware if someone's gardener looks different, if you see someone looking at houses, if you notice strange vehicles driving slowly past homes. Keep a pencil and paper handy to write down auto descriptions and license plates, just in case." the post states. "Anything that looks out of the ordinary."
Another tip suggested by the BAA to locals who want to protect their homes from burglars is to ask ACS Security personnel to conduct patrols on their street blocks. Residents with security cameras are advised to periodically check captured footage of their property.
And four home burglaries were reported to police in Westwood during the last two weeks on the following street blocks: 800 Levering Avenue, 600 Woodruff Avenue, 500 Midvale Avenue and 10900 Wellworth Avenue.
West L.A. Senior Lead Officer Phillip L. Enbody said in a weekly crime alert, "If you see anything that you feel is suspicious, but not an emergency, go to www.alertcommunity.com. It allows citizens to document suspicious activity quickly, easily, and anonymously."
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