EMERGENCY & CRIME ALERTS
Crime is not necessarily "up" in our neighborhood - but the Association has given us much better
communication with each other, so we "know about it" ...
The Alerts listed here were sent to our Members by e-mail as we learned about the situation from the LAPD or
from Members and neighbors. If you have information that you'd like sent out to Association Members,
please e-mail our Communication Lead.
| 08-02-2010 PARKED CAR SMASH-AND-GRAB |
Last night one of our neighbors had their car window broken out and a duffle bag taken from the passenger seat when their car was parked in front of their house. It is unusual that thieves actually break out the window, but it shows that if the item looks attractive enough, they will go for it.
This is the most frequent kind of crime we have in our canyon, and all over Hollywood Hills and flats. Please take anything that may look interesting out of your car. A duffel with smelly gym clothes or something more valuable, it makes your car an attractive prey. Also, don't assume that because something is locked in the trunk that it's safe -- it's no guarantee, as another neighbor discovered months ago.
PLEASE REMIND YOUR GUESTS TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS, TOO. It only takes seconds to get in an unlocked car or a bit longer to break it open.
If this happens to you, please take the time to go by the Hollywood Station on Wilcox (between Sunset and Fountain) to file a report. The police have been busting folks with cars full of stolen things. If your item is on file, you might get it back. It also gives the police a statistical way of tracking problems. It also helps with any insurance claim you might file.
| 07-11-2010 HOME BREAK IN ON LOLINA LANE |
A house on Lolina Lane was broken into and a checkbook stolen before the dog scared the intruders into leaving. Although we are not sure, we believe someone saw them when they left the house - LAPD has been notified.
If you have an alarm, please ARM IT when you leave ... if you think someone is watching you, wave back to your house or say good bye, say you'll be home in a bit.
It's getting warm and we all want to leave our doors and windows open when we go out -- but that's what they are hoping for. Our neighborhood watch has been great. Thank you all for continued support, it's definitely making our neighborhood safer ...
| 06-15-2010 CAR BREAK INS ON FIRENZE |
We have had a report of two cars being broken into in a driveway on Firenze Avenue between 9:00pm June 12th and 8:00am June 13th. Both cars were locked but somehow the burglers got in without breaking windows or the locks.
Items were taken from inside the vehicles and from the trunks. If anyone heard or anything or also had an incident that night, please let us know at crimealert@nicholscanyon.org.
It is important if you are a victim of this kind of crime that you file a report with the police. It may mean you have to go to the Hollywood station but they need the information to help solve these cases and track the crimes. Information provided by neighbors here helped them catch two men in Lake Hollywood on car break-ins and grand theft auto charges. Your Neighborhood Watch efforts matter.
| 03-29-2010 CAR STOLEN ON LOLINA LANE |
Early Sunday morning a car was stolen on Lolina Lane. The car had been parked on the street. The residents are contacting the police to file a police report.
Between midnight and 12:45, a suspicious vehicle was seen (silver Chrysler Challenger with heavily tinted windows) parked across the street from the vehicle that was eventually stolen. The suspicious vehicle was parked for 45 minutes with at least one young male driver and one female passenger sitting in the vehicle.
Our Block Captain got the license plate number, and stood outside her house looking at the car several times until the vehicle drove off (with its lights off) at approximately 12:45 AM (they may have later returned). She provided the license plate number and vehicle description to LAPD Officer Sanchez and the owners of the stolen car. While unfortunately the crime occurred, hopefully this will be an instance where Neighborhood Watch provides useful information to the LAPD for their investigation.
Please continue to keep your eyes open for suspicious vehicles and activity. Contact 877.ASK.LAPD to report the problem (or 911 if the situation is urgent), then contact LAPD Senior Lead Officer Officer Sanchez (email
30735@lapd.lacity.org or call him at 213.793.0704) -- and let us know,too crimealert@nicholscanyon.org.
This Member did everything right, and the car was still broken into - a measure of how bold the thieves are becoming. Make sure your cars are locked and alarms activated - and leave nothing on the seats, not even papers.
| 03-08-2010 LOCKED CAR BURGLARIES |
About 5:30am March 8, a locked car was burglarized on Lolina Lane. The alarm was set and did go off - a neighbor heard another vehicle speed away. A window smashed and a few (relatively non-valuable) items, such as the car's manual, were taken ... a police report was filed and ADT was notified.
This Member did everything right, and the car was still broken into - a measure of how bold the thieves are becoming. Make sure your cars are locked and alarms activated - and leave nothing on the seats, not even papers.
| 12-20-2009 DESMOND ESTATES BREAK IN |
Before 1 a.m., a home on Desmond Estates was broken into. The person(s) kicked in a locked wooden gate and entered through a sliding door which had not been locked. Stolen were jewelry, a desktop computer and small electronics. They appear to have been scared off by something, leaving a TV partially removed.
Obviously they had a vehicle in order to take the larger items. If anyone in the area saw suspicious vehicles or people or heard anything last night please let us know.
Make sure to double-check your locks before leaving or going to bed. Be sure your gates are well-maintained with good locks. We encourage you to invest in an alarm system and turn it on. So far those seem to be good deterrents.
| 08-28-2009 BURGLARY ON NICHOLS CANYON ROAD |
A house on Nichols Canyon Road (north of Sunnywood Lane) was burglarized between 12 and 2 PM. The resident believes that the burglars waited for the resident to leave home in order to time their entry with the home being vacant. Entry was through an unlocked garden door . A small safe with valuables was stolen from a bedroom, and the burglars likely removed the safe in the resident’s black rolling trash can. A neighbor a few doors down confirms hearing a rolling trash can at that time. The police were called and our Senior Lead Officer was also contacted.
Another neighbor reports that a nanny heard an intoxicated man yelling obscenities on the hill of Briar Summit near Chandelle during the day on Thursday. Our Senior Lead Officer has also been contacted with that report.
If you have any information about either incident, or notice other suspicious activity, please email crimealert@nicholscanyon.org as well as our Senior Lead Officer Sanchez 30735@lapd.lacity.org or 213.793.0704 and Officer Isabella 31823@lapd.lacity.org.
A successful Neighborhood Watch depends on all of us, so thank you in advance for keeping an eye out for your neighbors and for any suspicious activity.
| 07-19-2009 UNLOCKED CAR BURGLARIES |
LOCK YOUR CARS! Saturday night 7/18-7/19 a neighbor on Woodrow Wilson near Mulholland had an old IPod and some change stolen from their car which was inadvertently left unlocked. They reported another car alarm sounding in the vicinity during the night as well. Please let us know if your cars were broken into. While nothing of real value was taken this time, this is a reminder to lock your car and REMOVE stuff of value. the same applies to securing items in your carports - people are looking for anything they can trade or sell. This is the #1 crime in the Hollywood area.
| 05-26-2009 HOME BURGLARIZED DURING SHORT ABSENCE |
The home of new residents was burglarized on May 26th during their one hour absence. Police were called.
Remember - lock your doors and turn on your alarm system, no matter how short your trip will be. If you find open doors or windows on your return, DON'T GO IN THE HOUSE - call 9-1-1 immediately.
| 05-20-2009 VIOLENT CRIME ON TORREYSON |
We have few details, but the LAPD Crime Map is listing a rape on Torreyson on May 20th. We'll post any additional details we can find ...
| 05-19-2009 NEW MAILBOX THEFTS ON SEATTLE PLACE |
Neighbors on Seattle Place just reported that their mail was stolen on 5/18 (all but magazines). This is particularly serious as many folks are now receiving their IRS federal tax refund checks.
1. If you are missing mail, report it immediately to the US Postal Inspector Kelly Castro at 323 586-1986 kccastro@usps.gov. YOU MUST GET A REPORT FILED TO HELP YOU FOLLOW UP ON MISSING CHECKS, CREDIT CARD FRAUD, ETC.
2. If you are expecting refund checks around this time, go to the IRS website and click on "Where's my refund" to see when it was to be mailed out. You need some file number I think to access the information. Contact the IRS if your refund check is later than you would expect.
3. Get a sturdy locked mailbox - unfortunately, this kind of theft is likely to continue.
4. If you see anyone at a mailbox who does not appear to be the owner, call the police, get a license number and car description, take a photo with your cell phone etc.
After contacting the authorities, please send a note to crimealert@nicholscanyon.org.
| 05-07-2009 PARKED CAR VANDALIZED, CONTENTS STOLEN |
During the early morning hours of Wednesday May 6th, a neighbor's car window was smashed and a portable GPS system was taken. This occurred on one of our cul-de-sac streets. This is the first time we've heard of a car being vandalized to break-in to steal things.
If anyone else had problems or if you heard or saw anything, please let us know so we can share this with the police.
Officer Sanchez is urging us to also remove GARAGE DOOR CLICKERS as those can be used later to open your garage And please remember to take in ANYTHING that looks remotely valuable.
| 04-24-2009 LOCKED CAR BURGLARY |
Sometime during the night of Saturday April 18th, there was a theft of valuable equipment from a visitor's locked vehicle in a carport on Woodrow Wilson west of Nichols Canyon Rd. during the late night hours. The car alarm seems to have been disabled or wasn't working. Darkened car windows did not keep the perpetrators from seeing the equipment in the car. If you had an problems during the night of April 18-19, or saw anything, please send an e-mail to crimealerts@nicholscanyon.org
| 04-14-2009 Daylight Burglary |
We have had a mid-day break-in last Friday 4-10-09) at a home on Woodrow Wilson west of Nichols Canyon Road. Burglars broke-in through a back door during the few hours the homeowners were away. They ransacked the house, stealing many things from the home including a large television set. The Police have been very responsive and are investigating. If you have any information to report about this specific incident, please contact SLO Ralph Sanchez at 30735@lapd.lacity.org or 213-793-0704.
Please stay alert and be good neighbors to others. If you see folks you don't recognize removing things from someone's home, please call that neighbor if you know them and then call the police.
If you don't have an alarm system, think about getting one. If you have one, take the time to set it even if you are just running out for groceries ... in this case, unfortunately, that would have made all difference in the world.
It has been very quiet in our community for many, many months. A large part of that has been your willingness to be aware of activity around you and to report unusual or suspicious vehicles and people. The other part is taking precautions not to give these folks the opportunity to do harm.
Everyone appreciates this kind of caring. If you have something to report to the neighborhood send it to crimealert@nicholscanyon.org.
| 02-22-2009 Multiple Car Break-ins |
Last night at least 5 cars that we know of were entered, rifled through and items taken. In some cases, items were dumped in the neighborhood and have been retrieved. An Adidas bag with boxing gear was taken and no one has reported finding it. Four of the vehicles were on Nichols Canyon Rd. and the cul-de-sac streets above Woodrow Wilson . One was on Woodrow Wilson west of Nichols.
In every situation the cars were NOT locked. This was also the case last week when two cars on Westbrook and Nichols Canyon Place were opened, rifled through and some things taken including a visitor's garage door opener. These happened between 6:30 and 10:30pm.
If this has happened to you or a guest recently, please let us now by writing to crimealert@nicholscanyon.org. It's important to know what is going on and we will keep Ralph Sanchez in the loop too (213.793.0704).
SOME SUGGESTIONS:
1. Lock your car
2. Tell your guests to lock their cars even if they are only visiting for a short while
3. Don't leave anything that looks of value in your car
4. AAA suggests blacking out the address on your car registration and insurance cards that you keep in your glove box -- carry the complete ones in your wallet
5. Hide your garage door openers rather than keeping on visor
6. If you find backpacks, mail, discarded personal items in your yards or along the roads, let us know and we'll try to find the owners.
| 12-30-2008 More Mailbox Thefts |
More than 12 neighbors have reported that their mailboxes were broken into last night or very recently. The locations ranged from La Cuesta to La Castana to Astral to Seattle Drive to Mulhollland -- the full extent of our neighborhood.
Some neighbors reported that this happened to other neighbors who were away on vacation. Others reported that they found mail on the street and returned it to its rightful mailbox. Thank you for looking out for each other, and for sharing this information with us!
We have sent a summary of these incidents to Senior Lead Officer Ralph Sanchez. Several neighbors have also reported their mailbox tampering to the USPS (the LAPD has told neighbors to call the USPS as they do not file police reports for mailbox tampering). Susan Mullins is also going to reach out to a local postmaster for assistance and advice on this matter.
One neighbor reported seeing a new model black Infiniti with two people inside pull up and search his mailbox 4 or 5 days ago. Monday evening I saw an older model light blue ford explorer with two people stopping at each of the houses on Lolina Lane, as well as Kimdale Lane, and I called in the suspicious vehicle and its license plate into the LAPD in case it was related.
What you can do:
1) If you see a vehicle or people behaving suspiciously, call LAPD's non-emergency dispatch (877.ASK.LAPD) and Senior Lead Officer Ralph Sanchez (213-485-4316).
2) If you are the victim of mail theft or mailbox tampering, you can report the incident to the USPS Cherokee Station 323-460-4830. Please also report the incident to Senior Lead Officer Ralph Sanchez or call him at 213.793.0704 as well as crimealert@nicholscanyon.org. Reporting the problem to your patrol service (such as ADT or Post) is also a good idea.
3) Remember to take your mail in frequently in case your secure mailbox is tampered with.
3) Keep an eye on the homes and mailboxes of your neighbors that are out of town for the holidays.
Here's to a safe new year!
| 12-29-2008 Mailboxes Pried Open on La Cuesta |
Unfortunately, this morning two neighbors on La Cuesta near Lisco Place found that their locked mailboxes had been pried open sometime between Sunday evening and Monday morning (this morning).
The neighbors are going to report this incident to the police, but we wanted to get the word out to the neighborhood in case other neighbors were impacted by a similar theft/break-in of their mailboxes last night. We've also informed LAPD Senior Lead Officer Sanchez about these incidents.
Please let us know if you saw or experienced anything relevant last night or this morning.
| 12-20-2008 PROWLERS ON LA CUESTA |
On Saturday 12/20 around 6 pm, two neighbors walking their dog on La Cuesta watched as a white compact car with three men in it (Hispanic driver, could not ID the other two) was slowly driving up and down La Cuesta observing the houses, making several passes. The men got out of the car and began to look in parked cars with flashlights and as well as scoping out various homes. Unfortunately it was too dark to get the license plate number. Seeing this as very odd behavior, our neighbor went for help to a nearby house and the police were called. A helicopter arrived to do an aerial search but the men had taken off. There are no reports of any car or house break-ins so it appears that the police chopper probably discouraged further activity in the area.
This is exactly the kind of "Neighborhood Watch" Officer Sanchez was congratulating us on last week and urged us to continue. Many thanks to the neighbors who got involved. They were alert to their surroundings and willing to take some safe, reasonable action.
| 11-13-2008 Thursday Prowlers |
Neighbors on La Cuesta Dr. noticed their motion light on and opened the front door to see why it was on and saw a man with a flashlight come running out of their garage down their driveway to the street. The man was of average height and they did not see what he was wearing.
A man appeared at the door of a Member on Cervantes, saying he was homeless and trying to reach his wife. He asked the neighbor twice if he could use her phone and she said no. He told her he was hungry and she provided him with a little food and water while protecting her personal safety. He then proceeded down the hill towards La Cuesta while looking around at other homes.
The neighbor reported this via phone to LAPD Officer Sanchez. The man's description:
- Approximately 6 ft
- Fair skin
- Blondish hair
- Wearing a beanie cap (light green)
- Khaki-colored shorts
- Clean appearance
SAFETY REMINDER
LOCK: Lock your doors and windows and set your alarms, even if you're just going out for a few minutes.
LOOK: Please continue to keep an eye out for these suspicious individuals and other suspicious people and vehicles.
RECORD: Take pictures. Get license numbers. Write down vehicle descriptions. Share security camera footage with police.
REPORT: Make a report to the police, Senior Lead Officer Sancez and to Susan and me if of any suspicious activity.
| 11-06-2008 POLICE ACTIVITY IN NICHOLS CANYON |
You might have noticed the police helicopter circling the La Cuesta/La Castana part of our hillside around 3 a.m. Thursday morning. A La Cuesta neighbor reports that her alarm went off at 2:42 a.m. She discovered a living room door open that had not been able to be opened for a couple years. The police arrived by car and helicopter but couldn't find anything. Whether it was an act of nature or person, having the alarm set and activated was vitally important.
If anyone had a problem or any disturbance Thursday morning, please let us know so we can report this to the police as well.
The moral of this story--please set your alarm systems if you have them. I know that sometimes we go to bed, forget it and then are too tired to get up and do it. But this is a real reminder to "just do it!"
| 10-20-2008 4:00am BURGLARY ON NICHOLS CANYON |
Early this morning a prowler jimmied open a window at a home on Nichols Canyon Road, south of Woodrow Wilson. The person exited by a back door leaving it ajar. The resident discovered the open window and door at 4 a.m. and immediately called 911. Police arrived within 15 mintues but no one was found. Nothing appears to have been taken. Unfortunately the alarm had not been set last night.
If anyone else had problems this morning or saw any unusual vehicles, please let us know.
This is another reminder to:
• set your alarm if you have one
• lock accessible windows and doors even if you have locked gates and high walls.
• don't leave your wallets, purses, laptops, Iphones etc in the foyer and kitchen which are the first places burglars look.
| 10-11-2008 NIGHTTIME BURGLARY ON LA CASTANA |
Our neighbor reports that someone scaled a 7-foot wall and entered the house through an unlocked back door. The dogs alerted the owners but they didn't notice anything amiss when they went downstairs. Thinking raccoons or coyotes caused the dogs to be upset they returned to bed. In the morning they discovered that someone had been in the kitchen and taken an iPhone, a couple hundred dollars from a purse, had opened kitchen drawers and tried to break open a wine fridge.
The police responded and believe that this was not a professional burglar but rather someone on drugs (a "tweaker") looking for quick items to fence. Scaling a high wall, coming in with dogs in the house, and a crushed smoked cigarette discovered near the wine cooler and exit door supported their belief that this wasn't a professional job.
The officers warned that everyone should use great caution if they confront anyone in their home. Their advice -- use common sense:
1. Lock all accessible doors and windows. Don't assume that a high wall is a deterrent.
2. Pay attention to your dog's behavior, don't assume it is trespassing wildlife.
3. Kitchens and foyers are the most common place we leave our purses, phones, computer bags and keys. That makes for fast, easy pickings. Change our habits.
4. Motion sensor exterior lights can be a deterrent and give you a chance to see a potential intruder without you being seen.
We did hear an alarm in the neighborhood go off at 4:10 a.m. If anyone else had a problem or knows where this was, please let us know. We will be sure that our Senior Lead Officer Sanchez is in the loop too.
Our efforts of greater personal and neighborhood vigilance has made a difference over these last 15 months. Let's keep it up.
| 10-10-2008 DAYTIME BREAK-IN ON CAROB |
A white SUV was seen pulling into the home's driveway mid-day. We do not know how they entered the house or what was taken. Police have dusted for prints, taken neighbors' reports, etc.
A neighbor across the street has a surveillance camera which faces the victim's home so police are checking to see if that helps.
| 08-31-2008 Labor Day Weekend - Sunday: MAN ARRESTED AT LA CASTANA AND NICHOLS CANYON ROAD |
Police responded to a call from a Nichols Canyon neighbor late this morning about a man who was acting strangely and looking around the sides of homes. Helicopters and 4 police cars responded quickly and found the man by La Castana near Nichols Canyon Road -- he had asked via intercom for water but ignored the hose and began to look along the side of their home instead.
He was sweating profusely, disoriented and somewhat combative with the cops and resisting arrest. According to the police he was apparently on drugs. Paramedics were called to assist the police in taking the man into custody.
The man was described as about 5'10'', Caucasian, 20s, very muscular, shaved head, no obvious tatoos, shorts and a tank top.
If you have any further information or incidents around your home involving this person, please let us know so we can pass that information along to the police.
Thank you to our La Castana block captains for working with the LAPD this morning. Thank you to whoever made the call to 911.
Remember--call the police in these situations. Do not confront the person yourself. If they are on drugs they will be unpredictable and combative.
| 08-31-2008 Labor Day Weekend - Saturday Attempted Break-in |
There was an attempted break-in at 5:55 Saturday morning at a home on upper Nichols Canyon Road. The person tried to come in through first floor french doors but it set off the alarm and they took off without being seen by the homeowners. The person was undeterred by the fences and gates surrounding this house. It seems likely that the access was from the street and not from Briar Summit Conservancy.
The police responded though there was nothing further to be done. They suggested it could be someone looking for easy things to lift which was the pattern last summer. Since it is a holiday weekend they might have thought the house was empty.
Here's what you can do to help:
1. If you saw anything unusual this morning OR if you had any problems at your home, please let us know.
2. As always, and especially with it being a holiday weekend and folks are away, please keep your eyes open. With the "early morning m.o." if you are an early riser and walking your dog, please make note of anything or anyone out of the ordinary. Don't confront anyone. Take a phone photo, write a license plate etc.
3. Please set your alarms at night and when you are away. This is a deterrent as we saw this morning.
| 08-20-2008 Prowler on La Castana Tuesday Evening |
This evening,a neighbor on La Castana reported they came home to discover a young man climbing on the roof, peering down through the skylights. He had scaled a wall and some how got on the roof. Their surprise return scared the intruder off and they were unable to see where he went. He is described as a young white kid with a buzz cut, wearing jeans and a tan T-shirt.
While he did not gain entry to the house because of their return, this is a reminder to be sure to secure all door and windows whenever you are leaving your home. If you have an alarm, set it. With warm weather and the fact that the neighborhood has been very quiet for months, many of us have become complacent and careless.
If this happens to you and you subscribe to a patrol response service, call them so they can come to the neighborhood and do some drive-bys. They can respond faster than the police.
Please report any incidents quickly by phone or email to your block captain, Cristin Lindsay or me even if the entry is unsuccessful so we can send out the information and stay aware of our neighborhood.
| 05-30-2008 Break-In on Woodrow Wilson Thursday Night |
There was a break-in on Woodrow Wilson near Nichols Canyon Road last night. It was a similar m.o. to the ones last year where the person entered through an unlocked door between 3 and 4 in the morning. They took a laptop, an I-phone and money. The police sent three squad cars this morning when the burglary was reported to talk to neighbors in the surrounding homes as well as at the incident residence.
Officer Lee told us they had heard that there may have been another night-time burglary Wednesday night but we have not had any reports of this. The officers are giving all the information to our SLO Ralph Sanchez and we will pass along anything new of value to you.
In the meantime, if you heard or saw anyone last night in the area or around your home please tell us. Let us know if you know of other incidents. The police feel the perpetrator(s) go house-to-house looking for unlocked doors or easy open windows. As with last year, they are undeterred by the knowledge that folks are sleeping during the pre-dawn hours.
They said if anyone comes to the door at night that you don't know, do not open it. The officer encouraged us to call the police if you are concerned. Use the 877-ASK-LAPD number and tell them there are suspicious people checking the doors as that is the only way they will respond quickly.
| 03-24-2008 Strange Vehicles Observed |
ASSOCIATION MEMBER'S REPORT: Tonight at 10:20pm, when I made may normal U-turn to approach my driveway, there was an individual sitting in the driver's seat of a vehicle facing me at the corner of Nichols Canyon Terrace. I made a second "pass" and determined that the car was possible an older gray or gold Honda, no emblem but license plate was 6***238. I believe the driver was a male Hispanic in his 20s but can't be sure.
FROM OFFICER SANCHEZ, LAPD: I passed this info to our auto detectives immediately. Now, we have a team in the area, A male white on a bike rides by vehicles looking in, usually at night with a flash light. He calls a Gray primer Chevy Astro van to the car and they break in and drive off. PLEASE POST AND KEEP A LOOK OUT....
If you observe this kind of activity, please call 877-ASK-LAPD (877-275-5273). Tell them and also reference Officer Sanchez's request.
| 02-27-2008 Scam Burglary on La Cuesta Drive |
You may remember that in December a tree-trimming scam led to a burglary on La Cuesta. Yesterday a similar burglary occurred, also on La Cuesta, this time near the intersection with La Castana.
A young man came to the neighbor's door yesterday and told her that he was involved in another neighbor's construction project. He said that he wanted to show her where the construction trucks might impact her property. She agreed to walk around her property to look at where they would be working. She left her front door unlocked but closed as she walked around the property with the man. She thought the man was alone, but when they got to other side of her property she heard a car door close and looked up to see another man in a car near her front door. Because of the turns and hill in the road, she was unable to see the type of car or the second man's description, though she thought the car might be dark gray. When the man that the neighbor was with heard the car door close, he said that he had to go and rushed away. She walked back with him as he hurried away and asked for a business card. He said they had just run out of cards. As he got in the car with the other man, she asked when they would be back and he told her that they would be back in an hour. They never came back.
When the neighbor heard that they were out of cards, she remembered the other story of the scam on La Cuesta from December. She checked her home for missing property, and did not notice until today that her wallet was missing from her purse. It seems as though the second man entered her home while she was outside with the first man, went to her office, and took her wallet from her purse.
A police report has been filed on this incident.
| 02-13-2008 2-10-2008 Harassment |
One of our women neighbors was walking Sunday afternoon on Woodrow Wilson when she was accosted by a man with an Eastern European accent driving a late model, black, smaller series Mercedes--very beat-up with a trunk held closed with a bungee cord. He drove very slowly by her and made comments about her hair. There was something in his approach and manner that was very disturbing to her. He left but circled around again, waving strangely to her through the sunroof. The neighbor was frightened by this and ran to a nearby home. The good neighbors there walked with her back to her home where she then called the police.
On Monday, February 11, the husband and wife were walking around the same time and saw the same vehicle and driver. This time they got a license number and called Officer Isabella with it. He ran the plate and said it was listed as being for a Humvee. Either they misread the plate or the license was taken off another car. Officer Isabella said they would come to our neighborhood to observe. He said if it happened again, not to be confrontational but to move away and call for help on your cell phone. Yesterday (Tuesday) Officers Isabella and Sanchez were seen in the neighborhood during the afternoon checking things out.
While we don't know anything more , Officer Sanchez recently suggested that when neighbors go for walks they carry a few things with them---a pen to write down license numbers on their hands, a cell phone (picture capability helpful), and if you walk alone and are concerned about safety--an air horn! He said making noise is a great way to both repel someone and bring help and attention.
| 02-13-2008 2-11-2008 Intruder on Astral/Solar |
Around 8 PM Monday night, neighbors saw a man walking across their yard to their open doors where they were watching television. The neighbor quickly closed and locked the door and told him to get out of their yard. They report that his reaction was strange. He stood there looking at the neighbor "then pointed this way and that as though he was "lost", he then walked towards the north end of the yard. We called 911 and they dispatched the police. I was on the phone with the 911 operator in another room and saw the guy again walking to the south end of the yard. He was not running, did not seem alarmed."
The LAPD quickly dispatched two cars and a helicopter but were unable to find anyone. Their property is surrounded by 6 foot walls, locked gates and a gated driveway. One gate was found ajar when the police arrived. They did not hear or see any car drive away.
The man was described as was wearing a black T-shirt and black pants and wore a black back pack. He was about 5'-10" or 5'-11", bald and was Latino or African American, possibly in late 30's.
Another Astral neighbor, upon hearing about the incident last night, reported seeing a smallish white pick-up truck driving very fast down Astral at 9:40 on Monday night. It was driven by a dark-complexioned man, dark clothes and close-cropped hair. The late hour and speed of the truck on that narrow road brought it to their attention. While there may be no relationship to the intruder, this information is being passed along to our Officers.
| 12-24-2007 BURGLARY ON LA CASTANA DRIVE |
A neighbor on La Castana Drive between La Cuesta Drive and Nichols Canyon Road had a burglary occur on Monday, December 24th, between noon and 2 PM. One of the residents was out shopping, the other resident was taking a nap at home, and their dogs were being walked by a dog-walker. The front door and gate were unlocked. Both of the residents' cars were gone at the time. The burglar(s) took cash and gift certificates from the neighbor's wallet, an iPod, two bottles of champagne, some beer, and some CDs from the kitchen and went through a few kitchen drawers. The theft was not discovered until later that day. The details of the incident have been shared with our LAPD Senior Lead Officer Irvin Isabella.
| 12-23-2007 BURGLARY ON MULHOLLAND DRIVE |
A neighbor on Mulholland Drive near the intersection with Woodrow Wilson (the property borders La Castana Drive) had someone enter her home and steal money from her wallet around 5:30 AM Sunday 12/23. The burglar entered through the dog door of their kitchen door. The neighbor's dogs were asleep, so the burglar had time to find the neighbor's purse, move it closer to the kitchen door, pull out her wallet and remove the money inside. At that point her large and loud dogs woke up and caused the burglar to take the cash, leave the wallet, and exit through the kitchen door and back out the garage door (which was open due to an electrical problem).
The neighbors called the police shortly after discovering the burglary. The police responded within 10-15 minutes, and told the neighbor that this was likely the same person who has been trespassing and breaking into other homes in the area recently. The police are fingerprinting the scene.
| 12-17-2007 BURGLARY ON NICHOLS CANYON ROAD |
A neighbor on upper Nichols Canyon Road north of Sunnywood Lane was robbed Sunday night. The exact time of the burglary is uncertain but was likely the middle of the night. There is a possibility that the burglary occurred while the neighbors were walking their dogs between 3 and 4:30 Sunday. The burglars did not seem to force their entry and likely entered the home through French doors or a medium size dog door. Both front gates of the home can be easily scaled and there is a vacant home next door. A laptop and iPhone were taken (both were in the kitchen near the French doors and dog door). The neighbors do have a security system but it was not on last night.
The police were called and came by Monday evening to take a report.
| 12-15-2007 BURGLARY ON LA CUESTA |
A home on La Cuesta near Lisco Place was broken into yesterday at 12:15 PM. The burglary occurred as part of a scam with two men pretending to be a tree-trimming company.
The neighbor was approached, unsolicited, on Thursday at her home by a man named Mike who said that he was a tree guy working in the area who wanted to give her a price for trimming her trees. He said they were a family-owned business that had been operating for 30 years with full licensing, bonding, and worker's comp. The neighbor made arrangements with Mike to walk the property with him yesterday.
Mike arrived at the neighbor's house yesterday with his "dad." They were very polite and the father was talking on his Nextel, supposedly to a worker at one of the jobs in the area. The neighbor drove with them to the top of her property (on Mulholland) and discussed the tree-trimming work. When the men dropped her back off at her house, she found that her home had been broken into and robbed. The burglars came in through a sliding glass door at the back of the house, possibly using a crowbar to bend the frame of the door and break the lock. This was very frightening for the neighbor since her elderly mother was home during the robbery, asleep in a bedroom. The men were aware that the mother was home, but proceeded to rob the home anyhow.
In hindsight, the neighbor says that the one overtly suspicious thing about them was their lack of business cards or paperwork. They gave her an excuse that someone had stolen all of that from their car recently.
The burglars took jewelry, a palm pilot, and possibly other items. They went through all of the purses in the neighbor's bedroom, every dresser drawer and her linen closet.
BURGLAR DESCRIPTIONS
"MIKE"
About 5'9" Black hair, or really dark brown Light blue eyes (unusually light blue) Fair skin Good build – in good shape Had slight accent Early to mid 20s Talked a lot
"DAD"
Shorter than "Mike", maybe 5'5" Black hair Looked maybe Italian Dark skin, dark hair Heavier than "Mike" Maybe mid 40s English was great Spoke on Nextel-type phone in foreign language that wasn't Spanish
THEIR CAR
Dark blue compact station wagon, probably about 10 years old. Possibly a Volvo Camel color interior Power windows
The car and appearance of the people who actually broke into the neighbor's home is not known.
| 11-26-2007 LOLINA LANE BREAKIN |
Around 5:15 this morning there was a break in at a home about halfway down the Lolina Lane cul-de-sac. The resident woke up and found the intruder leaving a room near the front entryway and exiting through their front door. The residents found a side door and a side gate open, though they were sure that they had been closed and locked the previous evening. The method of entry is unknown at this point. No property was stolen. The man was wearing blue jeans, a dark (blue-grey) hooded sweatshirt and tennis shoes. He was African American, lean and almost 6' feet tall. This description closely matches that of the intruder in a prior break-in on Lolina as well as trespassing incidents on Westbrook ... however we do not know for sure if this is the same person or if there is more than one person.
At that point the resident screamed and yelled loudly and consistently ... a very effective way of quickly alerting neighbors to the problem. A neighbor emerging from his home on the Lolina cul-de-sac ran into the man headed toward the cul-de-sac. At that point the man turned and ran down the street toward Nichols Canyon Road. Several neighbors and I heard the screams and called the police while checking to see if the affected neighbors were unharmed.
POLICE AND NEIGHBORHOOD RESPONSE
Multiple squad cars and two unmarked detective vehicles responded to the call. It took about 10 minutes for them to arrive. The police helicopter was not able to fly at that time. Fingerprints were taken from the scene.
Susan Mullins and I called block captains in the vicinity. Those block captains went into action by alerting neighbors to turn on their outside lights and by observing the nearby streets and yards. The police on the scene told Susan Mullins and I that they were very impressed by our neighborhood support network and that it was the best such system that they had seen.
SUBSEQUENT SIGHTINGS
The man was then seen walking down Nichols Canyon Place toward the cul-de-sac by a block captain (around 6:30 AM). We told the squad cars on Lolina to head down there, and they went down and looked in several neighbors' yards but did not find the man. Once the police had left that area (around 7 AM), the man came out of a yard on Nichols Canyon Place and walked toward Nichols Canyon Road past Susan Mullins and another block captain.They confronted the man, saying "Hey!" and walking after him at which point the man ran away into a yard of a rental property with an unlocked gate on Nichols Canyon Road. The police helicopter was called out at that point and the squad cars returned, and the police searched all the yards that they could gain access to over there. They found footprints headed toward La Castana and think the suspect may have left on foot towards that area. They were unable to find him after an extended search.
Later in the morning (around 8 AM), a suspect was held by the police for questioning after a block captain saw him driving suspiciously by Woodrow Wilson and Nichols Canyon Road. Then the neighbors on Lolina who experienced these break-ins were brought to the police station to see if the man was the person who broke into their homes. He was not identified by the neighbors because he was too large and had a different body type, so that man was released.
| 11-13-2007 LA CUESTA TRESPASS |
At around 12:40 AM this morning, there was a trespasser at a house on La Cuesta near Del Zuro. The trespasser was checking all exterior doors to try to get into the house. The occupants heard the sound of boots on the deck and motion lights came on. The occupants saw a man in jeans and a dark hoodie walking by their garage. The description of the trespasser matches the man in my last crime alert (who trespassed on Westbrook and broke into a home on Lolina Lane).
The occupants called 911 and stayed on the phone with the operator until the police arrived. The alarm was set and nothing on the property was taken.
11 police officers in 5 cars responded within 5-7 minutes with their rifles and guns drawn. A helicopter was dispatched.
ADDITIONAL REPORTS
Shortly after the trespass was reported on La Cuesta, additional calls were made to the police from another nearby home on La Cuesta (whose occupant heard rustling in the bushes in his backyard). The police (who were already at the home on La Cuesta mentioned above) then responded to the second house on La Cuesta. No one was found in the backyard area (although the helicopter pilot did spot two deer in the vicinity).
The police also received a call from a house on Del Zuro reporting that someone was in their backyard. We have not had contact with that neighbor, but the police did call back the occupants on La Cuesta at 3 AM to tell them that they did not find anyone at the Del Zuro property.
In addition to the police response, Bel Air Patrol was notified and told the neighbors that they will increase their patrol of that area. We are keeping our Senior Lead Officer informed as well.
| 11-10-2007 WESTBROOK TRESPASS |
The neighbors on Westbrook who were broken into on 10/19 (with cash stolen) had a trespasser in her yard early this morning. Their dog barked, they looked out the window, and they saw a thin young man with a gray sweatshirt walking around the outside of the house. They suspect it might be the same robber as previously looking for an another open door (they were now locked). The neighbor yelled at the trespasser and he left going down the street. The neighbors describe him as a thin young male with grey sweatshirt pulled up over his head. Maybe 5'8"-5'10." The neighbor is not sure if he entered the area from a backyard on Nichols Canyon or over the gate on upper Westbrook, but he fled over the fence in the direction of Nichols Canyon Road.
LOLINA LANE BREAK-IN
Other neighbors at the end of the cul-de-sac at Lolina Lane woke up at about 6:15 this morning to find the same man in their den. He had entered from the backyard and their sliding door was not fully bolted. He heard the neighbor, and without showing his face or approaching the neighbor, left the house. The neighbors also described him as thin, 5'9-5'10", and wearing jeans and a dark grey hoodie with the hood over his head. They said he looked clean, not like a transient.
POLICE RESPONSE
I talked with the officers on scene at the Lolina break-in. They are assuming the trespasser is still in the area. They expressed their frustration at not being able to send up a helicopter to look for this guy who is very likely still walking around our neighborhood (the helicopters are out of commission this morning). They asked that everyone in the neighborhood keep an eye out and be sure to lock their doors and windows today (and regularly). The police were taking footprints (the guy had left muddy tracks on the sidewalk as he went) and, I assume, dusting for prints.
While nothing was taken from the break-in on Lolina, the police found that concerning as they felt that if the guy was not there to steal something, he may have been there to cause harm to one of the neighbors and was surprised by them before he was able to do so. We don't know his motives for sure, but we need to look out for ourselves and our neighbors today.
The responding officer is a personal friend of our SLO Isabella, so he will give SLO Isabella a call to discuss the events this morning. A second patrol car has just arrived and the officers are being briefed on the situation.
| 10-26-2007 ADDITONAL INFO ABOUT WESTBROOK BREAK-IN |
A neighbor on Westbrook has reported seeing a man in her backyard around 3:30-4:00 AM last Thursday, 10/18. That was the night of the break-in on Westbrook where the cash was stolen from the kitchen. The man ran off when he saw the neighbor and her 5 year old son in their kitchen. The break-in at Westbrook was reported to have happened at around 6 AM that morning. The neighbor reports that the man was small (5'3"-5'5""), looked to be in his 30s and his 40s, and she thought he could have been Hispanic. Neither gate to the backyard on either side of her house were locked and so he easily got in and left by these gates.
UPDATE ON FOUND STOLEN ITEMS
Susan sent out an update on 10/23 about the stolen items that had been found by the LAPD when they apprehended two suspects near the Knolls (between Universal and Lake Hollywood). We have received clarification that Detective Childs only wants to hear from people who had items stolen from their car on the night of 10/22-10/23. If something was stolen from your car in the nearby area during that period, please contact Detective Childs at 213-972-2945.
Around 1 a.m. (Thursday morning) a home on Mannix, near the Laurel Canyon grocery store, was broken into. Though the home was obviously occupied, the intruders broke a window to enter. The residents woke up and confronted two masked and armed men. The men immediately left the scene. The police were called; squad cars and helicopters arrived but the burglars were not found.
This is a similar m.o. to the late night entries we've had up here off and on over the last four months except that they've always entered through an unsecured window or door. They've never broken a window (thereby awakening the residents) so we don't know if they were masked or armed. Clearly those in the Laurel Canyon incident didn't stay for a confrontation and in our cases, they got in and out quickly with easily carried items.
ONE MORE ITEM
I was recently told by a La Cuesta neighbor that someone came over their fence at night last week and took a pack of cigarettes and a computer cord from their patio. Luckily they had taken their laptop inside. They tried to take a small television from their patio but it was bolted down (something the residents did when another patio TV was taken a year ago) The residents were sleeping and did not hear anyone.
Last night (Sunday) there was a break-in on Mulholland Drive near Woodrow Wilson between the hours of 7 PM and 11:15 pm. The owner was not at home. The intruders went down the hillside, scaled the fence and used their feet to break in the back door. They ransacked parts of the house taking money and jewelry. Neighbors did not hear anything. The police responded when the homeowner returned and found the break-in, taking foot prints etc. Detective Boucher of the Hillside Burglary Taskforce has met with the resident.
ACTION:
I spoke with Det. Boucher today to follow up. He is very familiar with our neighborhood as he was the Taskforce investigator when we had a series of late night break-ins in 2005. Det. Boucher will be sending me their alerts, along with drawings of their current suspects. As you know from reading the newspaper, they have yet to be able to find these suspects. When I forward them to you, please look at them and stay alert. Our Senior Lead officer is being kept in the loop both by the Detectives of the Burglary taskforce and by us.
FOLLOW-UP TO EARLIER INCIDENTS:
Woodrow Wilson/Westbrook attempted burglary incident (Oct. 12/13): Further details from the home owner indicates that the arrested man did not leave the property even though he knew he was seen. The resident wisely stayed on the line with 911 until the police arrived. This allowed the 911 operator to relay to the police current information from the site AND perhaps offered some support to the resident. Det. Boucher does not believe this incident is related to the one last night.
Officer Marmolejo is talking with the Burglary detectives on all these things along with checking out with them the license plate information some of you have sent. He'll get back to us shortly.
1. Woodrow Wilson (west) block captain Linda Linsky reported that there was an attempted break-in around midnight Wednesday night (Thursday morning) in the vicinity of Woodrow Wilson and Westbrook. The helicopter came. The police, from Hollywood, arrived in about twenty minutes. The man was arrested, but the police, who knew him, said he was a transient, alcoholic, and drug addict, and might come back.
ACTION: I spoke with our Senior Lead Officer Frank Marmolejo on Saturday and he is going to see what else he can find out about this that would be helpful to us. If any of you have further information, not hearsay, which would be helpful, please let us know. It is also helpful to know if your security system and security company was responsive, the M.O. of the person etc. That allows us to all think about how we manage our own security.
2. Also last week there was a report from a homeowner and a block captain on Mulholland of two young women who came to a gate and announced themselves as being UPS. The housekeeper, realized it wasn't UPS and did not open the gate. They then changed their story that they wanted to speak to the "lady of the house" about teenager issues. She told them to go away and called their security company and police to notify them of this. the home owner was concerned that this could also have been a ruse to distract attention while someone came over the wall elsewhere. Luckily, nothing happened.
ACTION: I also mentioned this to Officer Marmolejo. The advice is obvious. Don't open your gate or door without knowing who is there. If they say they are from UPS ask who the package is for or from. Don't have protracted conversations or give out information. If you feel uncomfortable, call your security company and call the Hollywood LAPD desk 213/485-4328.
3. Another neighbor on Nichols Canyon South saw a red pickup truck parked outside the home of his neighbor who he knew was out of town. He paid attention to them and copied down their license number. They started their car and left. The neighbor on the other side said the home did not look like it had been entered.
ACTION: The neighbor sent an e-mail to Lee Rose, on the Crime Watch Taskforce. It was forwarded to Officer Marmolejo. He told me he will run the plates and pass it along to the burglary taskforce. He also said to please thank the neighbors for doing this. He said running plates takes little time and they can actually turn up some good information. So thank you!!
Sorry to have to report a daylight break-in yesterday on La Cuesta. If anyone saw anything at that time or have useful information related to this please contact the detectives on the case--either Detectives Stone, Telis or Gandera at 213-972-2929 or 213-972-2931. Also please let us know AND e-mail our Senior Lead Officer Frank Marmolejo at 30061@lapd.lacity.org. so that he stays in the loop too. Note below the officer's question about a red Chevy Blazer which may be connected with other burglaries. Laptops seem to be the big item of choice.
| 08-29-2007 PROWLER REPORT |
We received word today from one of the block captains on Kimdale Lane of some unusual early morning activity on their cul-de-sac. They watched a black Lexus drive slowly around their cul-de-sac looking at each house, stopping and giving special attention to one house where the garage was open and the trunk of the car was also open. He made one more pass of the street and then pulled up into that driveway. He was on a cell phone when he got out of the car. A neighbor, watching this from in front of his house coughed to make the man aware that he was there and watching. The man made some abusive remarks to the neighbor, got back in his car and drove away. He never went to the door of the house which would be reasonable if it was legitimate business. They were not able to see his license plate clearly and though they drove around in their car to see if he was elsewhere in the neighborhood, he was gone. The man was a white male, shaved head, Eastern European or Russian accent driving a new, small model Lexus.
Thank you for being watchful and protective of your neighbors. This kind of action is quite effective. Obviously no one should take risks or take on gangs of folks. Just letting them see you're watching, writing down numbers, asking questions like this morning, discourages potential acts. If they are legitimate, they won't mind.
Around 9 PM last night Fire Company 97 responded to a call from a home on Nichols Canyon Road at the intersection of Del Zuro and Nichols Canyon. The fire was in the kitchen. Residents were home. Fire companies responded in full force. Tom and I went to the scene, along with La Castana block captain Thomas Smith. When it was clear that the fire was contained to the interior of the structure and was not a hazard to the rest of the neighborhood, we left.
Had this been a threat to the rest of the neighborhood, we would have begun to call the block captains and neighbors in the immediate surrounding area. We still have many families, especially on Nichols Canyon (south), Woodrow Wilson (west of Nichols) and the little roads near Runyon Canyon who are not on the list. The block captains are working hard to contact neighbors and have the emergency information from most of you. IF you have not gotten it to them please do so now. We are putting phone trees together to assist us in contacting you in case of emergency.
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