Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin
Pacific Palisades Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin releases weekly crime reports. CTN has compiled the list from the past three weeks.
When Espin released the April 12 reported, he also wrote: “Detectives have recently seen a trend in the continuation of suspects wearing surgical masks in an attempt to conceal their identities. Be aware of this trend and report suspicious actors wearing dark hoodies, gloves, baseball caps and a surgical mask carrying backpacks or fanny packs during midday hours and hours of darkness. These are predominantly the times these suspects have been seen on video.”
He also said detectives have advised residents with safes to bolt them down with actual lag bolts to concrete or to studs on the floor. Detectives have also suggested placing a personal GPS device inside valuable items like a purse or safe, which allows the ability to track items in the event of a burglary.
Espin said, “Detectives have also noticed a trend where it appears that the suspect(s) have called several victims on their landlines (home phones) prior to the commission of a burglary at least six to 10 times in order to verify if the victim’s residence was unoccupied at the time of their burglary. Leads like these can help detectives identify suspects.
And finally, a campfire was found on the beach in the early a.m. on April 11. Authorities were alerted, the fire put out and the area cleaned up.
March 19 to April 8 Crime
BURGLARY:
March 31, 6:15 to 9:30 p.m., in the 400 block of Beirut Avenue. An unknown suspect broke the rear sliding glass door, with an unknown object, entered, took property and then fled.
April 3, 8 p.m., in the 100 block of Mabery Road. Rear bedroom window was smashed. Suspects ransacked several rooms and possibly took property. No CCTV, prints requested.
April 4, 8 p.m., in the 14900 block of La Cumbre Drive. The suspect used a tool to pry open rear door, enter, alarm was then activated. It is unknown if the property was taken because the victim was out of town. CCTV possible.
April 4 to 5, 5:30 a.m., in the 17000 block of Vereda de la Montura. Suspects cut locked gate to construction site and took multiple tools belonging to multiple contracts. There were separate reports filed, but it was one incident.
BURGLARY THEFT FROM VEHICLE:
March 19, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the 17700 block of Pacific Coast Highway. The suspect gained entry to victim’s locked vehicle, removed property and fled.
March 19, 4:19 to 5:30 p.m., in the 17300 block of Pacific Coast Highway. Suspects smashed victim’s vehicle window and removed property and fled.
March 20, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., in the 15100 block of Pacific Coast Highway. The victim parked vehicle, went surfing and when victim returned, property had been taken from locked vehicle.
March 29, 6:15 to 10 p.m., in the 100 Block of West Channel Road. The victim discovered property was taken while vehicle was parked in the valet parking lot.
April 4, 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the 15300 block of Pacific Coast Highway. The suspect opened unlocked vehicle door and removed property from rear floor.
GRAND THEFT AUTO:
March 21 to 22, 2:30 p.m. to 10 a.m., in the 700 block of Latimer Road. A vehicle, with keys inside, was taken from a garage.
March 31 to April 3, 10:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., in the 200 block of Quadro Vecchio Drive. A vehicle was taken from the victim’s driveway.
April 7, 9 to 10 a.m., in the 15000 block of Sunset Boulevard. Vehicle taken from parking structure.
April 7 to 8, 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., in the 14000 block of Bestor Blvd. Vehicle was taken from street.
ROBBERY:
April 4, 2:20 p.m. in the 14700 block of Pacific Coast Highway, a suspect acted as a customer, approached the register, produced a handgun and pointed it at the person and said, “Do you want to die?” The suspect threw a red Papa John’s pizza carrier at the person and said, “Give me all the money.” In fear the victim complied. The suspect, after receiving the money, fled in a black SUV. CCTV is possible and prints were requested.