Melrose News
Serial Window Smash Burglars Nabbed
By Damian Kelly
Jun 15, 2012 - 11:43:58 AM

MELROSE—Serial window smash burglars who were terrorizing the Melrose Village and Fairfax Districts have been apprehended, according to a news release from the Los Angeles Police Department blog.

Rickie Porter, 22, of Lancaster, Cleveland Black, 24, of Palmdale and William Black, 52, of Los Angeles are believed to be responsible for an estimated ten burglaries in the area and at least one other in North Hollywood in the last month.

According to police, the suspects were going to closed businesses in the early morning hours and smashing the plate glass windows to gain entry.  Once inside, they would steal cash and/or merchandise.

Video surveillance of the burglars led to their arrests. Photo courtesy of Sipsey Street Irregulars blog

Investigations conducted by detectives’ uncovered descriptions of the vehicle and the suspects involved thanks to video surveillance.

The burglars’ reign of terror came to an end on Wednesday, June 13 around 4:30am when LAPD Wilshire Community Police Station officers patrolling spotted a car described by the investigating detectives.  A field investigation led to evidence that connected the driver and a co-suspect to a burglary that had occurred just 30 minutes prior to the car being spotted by police.

All three suspects were arrested for commercial burglary and booked at the Metropolitan Detention Center in L.A.  Each suspect is being held on $20,000 bail.

Property stolen during the commercial burglaries in Mid-City was recovered after Wilshire detectives served a search warrant in Palmdale.

The suspects are also believed to be responsible for additional window smash burglaries between the Mid-City area and communities north towards the San Fernando Valley as detectives continue their investigation.

Police say video surveillance that contained high resolution footage of the suspects and their vehicles was invaluable to them during their investigation.  They added that the businesses who invested in quality high resolution video are equally responsible for the success of the investigations.

Anyone who has additional information regarding the window smash burglaries is encouraged to contact Wilshire Burglary Detective Paul Quan at (213) 922-8251 or (213) 922-8205. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to (877)527-3247. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.  Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "WebTips" and follow the prompts.