The holiday shopping season is here and thieves will be looking for complacency and easy targets. Burglary theft from Motor Vehicles (Car break ins) is one of the highest occurring crimes in the West Los Angeles Area. This is due to very valuable and expensive personal property being left inside unattended vehicles.
An automobile is not a safe or secure place to leave any valuables whether locked or unlocked. If any property is left unattended in the car for even just a few minutes IT WILL BE STOLEN! Even something as simple as a small sun glass case, an empty backpack or gym bag will cause your car window to be smashed resulting in hundreds of dollars in damage alone.
Car burglars are stealing a variety of small expensive electronics and valuables. The top items being taken in most car burglaries is portable GPS systems, IPODS, cellular telephones, lap top computers, purses, wallets and money.
The West Los Angeles Area continues to be a target rich environment. Based on the history and information from arrests that have been made we know we have a variety of car burglars that travel to the west side of Los Angeles to commit their crimes. Although many arrests have been made the crimes continue occur. This tells us there are numerous suspects that are targeting the area.
The Los Angeles Police Department is making every effort to combat this problem. Community awareness and involvement is instrumental in the prevention of these crimes.
Help us in preventing these crimes by removing all valuables and property. Please do not leave ANY personal property visible in the car!
William A. Eaton, Captain
Commanding Officer
West Los Angeles Community Police Station
Basic Car 8A1, Pacific Palisades Senior Lead Officer Michael Moore
Email address: 27995@lapd.lacity.org
Area Boundaries:
Mulholland Drive/Santa Monica Mountains (N)
City of Santa Monica/Pacific Ocean (S)
Malibu/Topanga (W)
Allenford Avenue/Evans Road (E)
Criminals are gaining entry into Palisades homes through apparently unlocked doors. In one incident, the criminal entered a residence (undetected) while the owner was home. Although the Palisades is one of the safest areas in the City of Los Angeles, it is important that we practice home security at all times.
Transients and related criminal activity are a continuing problem in the Palisades. This problem can be greatly reduced by giving money, clothing, and food to homeless shelters instead of directly to the transients. This can help improve your community by encouraging the homeless to use shelters and stop living on the streets.
The WLA Community Police Station is looking for community members willing to help remove graffiti from their neighborhood. We will be conducting a task force in the near future. If you wish to help, please contact me by e-mail.
For questions or comments please contact Senior Lead Officer Michael Moore at (office) 310-444-0737 or E-mail me at 27995@lapd.lacity.org.
Basic Car 8A13, Brentwood
Senior Lead Officer Phillip Enbody
E-Mail me at 24914@lapd.lacity.org
Perimeter:
Mulholland Drive (N)
Wilshire Boulevard. (S)
Sullivan Canyon (W) and
San Diego Fwy (E)
CRIME
We have had a number of community member’s witness crimes or observed suspects before they committed crime in Brentwood. This is fantastic; we are becoming more aware of others in our neighborhood. The next step, what do we do when we see something that just isn’t right?
Who do I call first?
Call the police “911” or “ 877 ASK-LAPD” (877 275-5273).
Give the operator a complete description of the suspects and their vehicle
What can I do, if I can not make a call?
Make some kind of noise, honk your horn, and knock on the window. Make them aware you are there and you see them.
Ask them if they need help?
They don’t want to be seen.
Opportunity Thefts
Do not leave any items unattended in coffeehouses, markets, gyms, and restaurants.
Remember you have take responsibility for your property.
It’s your property and if you walked away from it or it may walk away from you!
TRAFFIC
If you will any questions regarding signs, signals, permit parking, and curbs. Please contact Department of Transportation, Bureau of Traffic Management, at 310-575-8138
QUALITY OF LIFE
Problems with Street People, Transients, Homeless, or Urban Travelers taking up residence on your property. They are trespassing, and can be arrested. It is a citizen arrest the Los Angeles Police Department will taken them into custody and book them and write the report. As the person arresting, if the case goes to court you could be subpoened to testify since you are the owner or an agent for the property.
Anything, left on your property is abandon and is considered trash and may be disposed of. Do not leave any beds, mattresses, sofa’s, or chairs next to your trashcans or dumpsters. Only bring the item out the night before trash is pick up. If you have a dumpster put the item in the dumpster, do not leave the item next to it.
Call “311” and ask for “bulky item pick up”, the City of Los Angeles come out and remove the items.
All storage lockers within parking areas whether empty or full must be locked. If they are left open and/or unlocked they will move items into the lockers. In some cases they have put their own lock on the locker and used it to store items. In other cases, they have physically moved into the locker, they lit candles and smoked while inside the lockers causing a fire hazard.
If you have any questions, please call me at 310-444-0744 or e-mail me at 24914@lapd.lacity.org
Senior Lead Officer Phillip Enbody
Basic Car 8A29, Bel Air, Westwood Senior Lead Officer Christopher Ragsdale
Office: 310-444-0741
Email: 26690@lapd.lacity.org
Perimeter:
Mulholland Drive (N)
Santa Monica Boulevard (S)
San Diego Freeway (W), and
Beverly Hills (E)
Over the last several years the Hillside communities of Bel Air and Brentwood have experienced a series of residential burglaries. The burglaries have been occurring various days of the week and most frequently between the times of early to late evening hours while residents are away for a few hours.
The areas of the home that has been targeted has been primarily the upstairs master bedroom and master bathroom of the home where valuables such as jewelry, cash and small safes are routinely kept in closets and vanities. The methods that have been used to gain entry into the homes have been through second story glass doors and windows by smashing the glass and entering the residence.
The burglars have been accessing the second story by utilizing ladders that were already being stored in the garage and side or rear yards of the residence, patio furniture and chairs or other easy access points that lead to the second story.
The Los Angeles Police Department is making every effort to address this crime trend. Since community awareness is the key to prevention we need your assistance. Immediately report any suspicious activity to the police. If you observe what you believe to be a crime in progress or a crime that just occurred call 911 immediately. All other suspicious activity may be reported to the non-emergency dispatch directly at 1-877-275-5273. Be prepared to provide a description of the suspects and vehicle including license plate information.
We are encouraging residents to re-evaluate your home security by utilizing the below prevention measures.
Ensure all doors and windows are securely locked, including side or rear garage doors.
Ensure that alarm systems are maintained in good working order.
Ensure that the upstairs master bedroom and closet areas are equipped with motion sensor detectors.
Activate alarms when leaving your residence even if just for short trips away.
Install surveillance cameras covering the exterior and interior areas where safes and other valuables are kept.
Ensure that safes are bolted and secured to the frame or foundation.
Maintain up to date records and photos of small non-serialized valuables.
If you or someone you know has any leads or other information regarding this crime series contact the Los Angeles Police Department at 1-877-529-3855 (1-877-LAWFULL). You may remain anonymous.
Get to know your neighbors and help each other out by watching out for each other. If your neighborhood does not have a Neighborhood Watch talk to your neighbors and start one. Report any suspicious activity or crime immediately to the police department. EMERGENCY: 911, NON-EMERGENCY: 1-877-275-5273, uncertain, contact the West L.A. station desk at 310-444-0701.
For questions or comments you may contact Senior Lead Officer Christopher Ragsdale at 310-444-0741 or email at 26690@lapd.lacity.org
Basic Car 8A35, Westside Pavilion/ Rancho Park Senior Lead Officer Rashad Sharif
Perimeter:
Santa Monica Boulevard (N)
Santa Monica Freeway (S)
San Diego Freeway (W), and
Motor Avenue (E)
Together the Community and the Police can make a difference. I will stress though that in order to be successful in this endeavor we must always remain persistent and vigilant. The area that I would like to concentrate on is the crime of burglary. A burglary is someone enters your car or residence with the intent to commit a crime. That crime of burglary is most often is geared to deprive the victim of property. This can easily be on of the most violating crimes to society, where someone has disturbed in inner sanctity of your abode and somehow it can take forever to get over. Fortunately, there are things you can do to protect you, your family and your home from the predators out there. Please read the following directive carefully and implement a few suggestions into your safety routine.
Barriers to Burglary
Burglary is a crime of opportunity. Make their work risky and difficult, and you stand a good chance of stopping them before they get in. Your first line of defense to a burglar visibility means vulnerability. They hide behind fences and shrubbery. The key is to keep trespassers out while keeping your property visible. Use picket or chain link fences. Keep hedges clipped down around waist level.
On the outside looking in burglars try the doors and windows first. If burglars have difficulty here, chances are they will move on to another property.
Doors
Locks. The strongest are deadbolt locks with a minimum 1" throw bolt containing a hardened, saw-resistant steel insert. Attach the strike plate to the door frame with 4" screws. The double cylinder deadbolt lock requires a key from both sides, preventing a burglar from breaking glass in the door and turning the knob from the inside. Make sure the cylinder of the lock has a steel guard - a ring around the key section. The cylinder guard should be tapered, or it should rotate around the key section to prevent wrenching.
Remember, though, a double cylinder dead- bolt can also block your exit in an emergency. Check with your local law enforcement agency or building inspector to see if these locks are permitted in your area.
Hinges. Doors that swing out have hinges on the outside. A burglar can easily remove the hinge pins and lift the door out. To foil this, remove the center screw from each side of the hinge and insert a metal pin or headless screw on one side. When the door is closed, the end of the pin will fit into the opposite hole. Thus, even if the pins are removed, the door will remain bolted to the frame.
Padlocks. Overhead doors, receiving doors, garage doors - all are typically secured with padlocks and hasps. Look for sturdy padlocks that don't release the key until the padlock is closed. The padlock should be case-hardened with a 3/8" shackle to resist repeated smashing. Remember, a padlock is only as good as the hasps on which it is mounted; so bolt hasps securely to a metal plate, and make sure the bolts are concealed when the padlock is closed.
Door construction. Burglars can kick in a weak door. Replace hollow core doors with solid core doors, or strengthen the existing ones with metal sheets. Replace weak,door frames, or reinforce them with steel or concrete. Protect glass in the door with steel bars or mesh; or place a polycarbonate sheet over the glass on the inside.
Windows
Protect windows by putting grates, grill work, or bars over them; or cover the glass on the inside with a clear polycarbonate sheet. The sheet should extend 1-1/2" beyond the perimeter of the glass and be bolted to the door. Space the bolts approximately every 3 inches. Unbreakable safety glass is also available, but it is more expensive.
Other entrances
Skylights, ventilation ducts, and fire escapes tempt burglars because these openings usually are not visible from the street. Protect skylights and ducts with metal grates and iron bars. The first stair of a fire escape should be too high for the average adult to reach from the ground. The door or window leading to the escape should be equipped with emergency exit features: window guards should be removable or hinged to allow for an emergency exit. Keys to locked windows or door should be kept nearby.
Key control. Because any lock gives way to a key, practice good key control.
Label keys with a code indicating back door, receiving door, display case, etc.
Engrave "Do Not Duplicate" on all keys.
Restrict key-access to your most trusted employees; maintain a log to record removal and return.
Consider having locks re-keyed when an employee leaves your business.
Guards
Join neighboring businesses to hire a uniformed guard from a reputable security company. Check references. The security staff should be familiar with your employees, your store hours and your shoplifting/internal theft policies.
Lighting
Light is a great crime deterrent. In fact, some states have minimum standards for exterior lighting. Light up all dark areas, especially doors and windows. If your business is in a poorly lit commercial area, join with other merchants to petition local government for more lights or pool funds and underwrite the cost yourselves.
Alarms
Before you invest in an alarm system, weigh the cost against your need. How valuable is your merchandise? How great is your risk? After installing an alarm, let burglars know by putting warning signs in windows and entrances.
Every alarm system should include:
a fail-safe battery backup
fire-sensing capability
a feedback device to check the system
For an expert appraisal of your security needs, ask for a premise security survey by your local law enforcement agency, or check with a reputable security consultant.
Operation Identification
Mark your property with your California driver's license number (preceded by the letters "CA"). Then put Operation I.D. decals (obtained from your local law enforcement agency) on all windows and doors to warn burglars that your property can be traced. Keep a complete, up-to-date inventory of your merchandise and property: office machinery, personal belongings, etc. Put a copy in your safe deposit box or at a location away from the business site.
Remember
Locks and alarms can't prevent a burglary unless they're in use. Establish a routine for "closing up shop," locking doors and windows, setting up alarms.
If a burglar breaks in
Your best protection against an intruder is visibility: Well-lit open spaces, low counters, and large, uncluttered display windows - these precautions keep the burglar in the spotlight.
Put your safe and cash register up front so that the burglar's activity will be visible from the outside. Empty your cash drawers and leave them open so a burglar won't be tempted to break them open. Anchor safes in concrete, and make sure they have combination locks. Put locks on all interior doors and hook them into your alarm system. (Always check fire regulations before installing such locks.)
If you suspect a burglary:
• Don't go in - the burglar may still be inside.
• Don't open for business - your employees and customers may unwittingly alter valuable evidence.
• Call police immediately.
Basic Car 8A53, West LA Senior Lead Officer Matthew Kirk
Perimeter:Wilshire Boulevard (N)
Centinela Ave (W)
San Diego Freeway (E), and
Santa Monica Freeway (S)
There have been numerous Burglary from Motor vehicles in the boundaries between Wilshire Blvd., Bundy Drive, Pico Blvd., and Sawtelle Blvd. Keep your eyes and ears open and please report any suspicious activity.
Day and Night you can be a victim of Burglary from Motor Vehicle. Follow the below tips. 80% of our victim's leave their vehicles unlocked with property inside.
CALL THE POLICE, PLEASE LOCK YOUR VEHICLE, AND REMOVE ALL PROPERTY FROM THE INSIDE.
Hot item stolen from vehicles are: Ipods, Computers, and Purses. These are things that we can have control over by not leaving these temptations in your cars.
Graffiti Removal Graffiti promotes fear within the community, call and have it removed. Take photos if possible (digital camera) and electronically send them to law enforcement. Call for a free paint out at Pacific Graffiti at 310-204-2756. When never you see graffiti call and have it painted out.
If you have any questions please contact me at (Office) 310-444-0742 or Cellular 310-622-3986.
Basic Car 8A59, Eastside of West Los Angeles Senior Lead Officer Maria Gray
Email: 30469@lapd.lacity.org
Cell Phone: 310-622-3987
Perimeter:
Gregory Way (N)
Cadillac Avenue (S),
La Cienega Avenue (E), and
Robertson Boulevard (W).
****Senior Lead Office Phone 310-444-0739****
Please contact me regarding your neighborhood’s Neighborhood Watch Program.
La Cienega Heights Neighborhood Watch- Learn how you can help protect your family and your neighborhood.
* Recent Gang Related Shootings
* Gang related and other Criminal Activity
* Illegal Dumping, Graffiti and Street Lights
If you live in the Crestview area and wish to join your neighborhood watch please send an e-mail to crestview@usa.com.
If you live between Pico & Gregory Way contact Marc at marcsmith1@ca.rr.com. If you live between Sawyer & Cadillac send an e-mail to lach01@ca.rr.com. Here are some Phone Numbers and Websites that may come in handy during the year.
• To make a police report: 310-444-0701
• To have police dispatched: 1-877-275-5273
• Graffiti Removal: pacificgraffitisolutions@hotmail.com
• District animal care and control centers: 888-452-7381
• Fifth District: Councilmember Jack Weiss 310-289-0353
• Tenth District: Councilmember Herb Wesson 323-733-8233
If you have any questions or concerns feel free to call the Senior Lead Office at 310-444-0735.
Basic Car 8A95, Pico/Robertson and 8500 Cadillac Avenue
Senior Lead Officer Mario Gonzalez
Perimeter:
Santa Monica Boulevard (N)
National Boulevard (S)
Robertson Boulevard (E)and
Overland Avenue (W)
Distraction burglars come into the area and prey on elderly victims, by befriending them, gaining their trust and then stealing from them. Usually they are posing as a utility worker, a contractor or a person in distress. Immediately report suspicious persons in you area.
Burglaries are on the increase. Secure your homes. Lock all doors and windows. Also do not leave valuables in plain view inside you car. There are opportunists out there that are tempted by laptop computers, cameras, purses and other valuables lying on the seat.
Any questions or quality of life issues please give me a call at (Office) 310-444-0740 or email at 25483@lapd.lacity.org.
west bureau 
