Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin has released two notices regarding the burglaries in Pacific Palisades.
“The first is that the entire Westside including Brentwood, Bel Air and Hollywood areas are experiencing an increase in burglaries,” Espin said. “These burglars are using different tactics now to gain entry into our homes and neighborhoods.”
One ploy is criminals pretend to be landscapers. “They will have one or two individuals wearing a mask and some sort of traffic vest and they will use a leaf blower pretending to do landscaping,” Espin said.
The suspects have been described as three or four male black individuals. “I encourage everyone to be vigilant and take notice if you do not see an actual landscaping truck with tools and equipment parked in front of a residence. You do not need to call the police if you see landscapers working. Only call the police if you see individuals committing a crime.
Espin said that criminals are now using rental vehicles or vehicles with paper plates or stolen plates. “The more neighbors that come outside and be visible is the best deterrent we have to keep our neighborhood safe,” he said.
He noted that because burglaries on the Westside are still elevated, extra patrols have been added to the area.
“Our Metropolitan unit (which handles the majority of the City’s specialized enforcement) will be driving around in the high impacted burglary areas, which will include the Palisades,” Espin said.
He reminds people to be vigilant and “when you see a crime in progress or about to occur, call the police using the non-emergency line or 911.”
Espin says although the wait times can be long, he uses this date to show an accurate crime picture for this area.
Palisades Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin
CRIME: August 4 to 17
AGGREVATED ASSAULT:
August 15, 3:34 p.m., in the 15100 block of Sunset Boulevard. The victim was trying to walk around the suspect, a black male, to go to work. The suspect told the victim, “You can’t walk here.” The suspect then kicked the victim in the chest, causing him to fall, hit his head on the pavement and lose consciousness. The Suspect was arrested for felony battery.
ATTEMPTED GRAND THEFT AUTO:
August 10, 3:30 a.m. in the 14900 block of Camarosa Drive. Two males in a newer white Dodge Charger, smashed victim’s jeep window, entered and attempted to steal the vehicle.
BURGLARY:
August 4, 4 a.m. in the 1100 block of Embury. The suspect smashed rear door, entered, ransacked and removed designer purses (unknown value). Possible CCTV. There were no prints because gloves were worn.
August 8, 2 p.m. in the 500 block of Las Casas. The suspect pried a sliding glass door, entered, ransacked and removed jewelry and collectibles valued at $23,000. No evidence. CCTV available.
August 9, 7:40 a.m. in the 17000 block of Sunset. A transient entered the victim’s apartment and stole the victim’s electric bike. The victim was able to locate the suspect and demanded her bike back. The suspect stepped off the bike and walked away.
August 9,12:30 p.m. in the 600 block of Enchanted Way. Three suspects entered the residence through an unlocked rear door and moved money and jewelry valued at $5,500. CCTV available.
August 14, 1:30 p.m. in the 500 block of El Medio Avenue. The suspect smashed a rear French door to gain entrance to the house. The suspect ransacked several rooms and tool cuff links and a watch worth $400. The suspect entered a sedan and fled. CCTV is available.
August 14, 4:41 p.m. in the 1600 block of Anoka Drive. Three males smashed a rear window, which triggered an alarm and ACS Security responded. The driver of the suspects’ vehicle saw ACS and honked, alerting the suspects inside the residence. The suspects ran to the vehicle, unable to take the safe. The car was a black Cadillac, and a CCTV and picture of the plate is available.
August 17, 11:30 p.m. in the 13900 block of Sunset Boulevard. The rear glass door was smashed. Unknown suspects entered, ransacked and removed a safe containing money and jewelry valued at $165,000. No CCTV, prints requested.
Crimes that have occurred in Pacific Palisades, but are not captured by the new software include:
3 BURGLARY THEFT FROM VEHICLE
1 THEFT
2 GRAND THEFT AUTO