RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES:
The vehicle (in the first photo) a black Chevy Suburban, has been seen in several burglaries throughout the Westside. The suspects are possibly three or four male blacks (based on security footage from a neighbor’s camera). During the commission of each burglary, two suspects – who are described as male black, wearing dark clothing, masks, gloves, carrying backpacks, and a handheld radio, climb over the victim’s rear fence and or wall to gain entry into the rear yard.
Suspects then smash a glass partition of the rear door and ransack the residence looking for jewelry, purses, and US currency. The suspects then flee back the way they came in and in the suspect vehicle. On two occasions, the suspect vehicle had been “Cold Plated” [using a stolen license plate from a similar looking vehicle].Please keep an eye out for suspicious activity. if you see a crime occurring call the Police immediately. If you see this or a similar vehicle hanging around the street let your neighbors and keep an eye out for each other.
According to Fox 11, around 11 p.m. August 2, a Brentwood couple arrived home from dinner and found their front door wide open, and all the lights turned on inside.
LAPD found a trail of damage that occurred when the burglars dragged a large safe that had been bolted to the ground through the home. The suspects then managed to get the safe into a getaway vehicle and left the scene.
JEWELRY/NEED DIRECTIONS SCAM:
Officer Espin said, “We have seen a couple reports of jewelry scams on the streets. A couple (possibly middle Eastern) will pull up in a vehicle and approach (usually an elderly person) and ask for directions.”
The criminals will make small talk, and possibly put fake jewelry on the victim to distract the person and then remove your personal jewelry and flee the area. “Once you realize your personal jewelry is missing the suspects have already left,” Espin said.
POST OFFICE IRRITANTS: First Amendment “Auditors”
Over the past week, there have been a small group of First Amendment “Auditors” roaming the streets of the Palisades.
Auditors are individuals that make videos of their encounters. They often enter public property without identifying themselves or explaining their purpose.
Espin said, “These individuals will sometimes cover their faces with masks and walk around recording people trying to bait them into some sort of confrontation. These individuals are knowledgeable of the right to record on public property and what they are allowed to do on public space.
“They will even say things just to get a reaction from people (that is their right to freedom of speech),” Espin said. “I monitored the group from a distance the other day to make sure our community members did not get involved with the group. My suggestion is to ignore these individuals and do not engage in any confrontation or discussion with them. Once they see they are not getting any reaction from us they will move on to another area.”
They do have constitutional rights to record from open public spaces.
According to a February 2024 story in AmericanPoliceBeat, “The internet is ablaze with videos of so-called First Amendment auditors. Provocative individuals, often referring to themselves as “journalists” go to extremes to conspicuously take photos and videos in or near public areas. Among their favorite haunts are police departments, city halls, libraries and other public buildings.
“Any police officer willing to take the bait of their disrespectful affronts is a prime candidate for a full-on internet exposé. Most of these videos can be found on social media and video-based online mediums such as YouTube.”
The author, noted that the group does not appear to be associated with any particular organization and suggested avoiding confrontation click here.