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Beloved Creole-style eatery in Southern California repeatedly hit by thieves

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Beloved Creole-style eatery in Southern California repeatedly hit by thieves

An iconic Creole-style restaurant in business for 55 years in Los Angeles’ “New Orleans” corridor is hoping the public may recognize thieves who got away with thousands of dollars in liquor and equipment during two separate break-ins this month.  

Harold & Belle’s opened at 2920 W. Jefferson Blvd. in L.A.’s Jefferson Park neighborhood in 1969 and has been a beloved community eatery since.  

Third generation owner Ryan Legaux said the restaurant, which is between 9th and 10th avenues on West Jefferson Boulevard, was first hit by burglars on Dec. 21.  

“You feel like someone’s actually watching,” the restaurant owner said of the two burglaries.  

Surveillance video captured at least three suspects using a crowbar to pry open the doors, where once inside they targeted the restaurant’s liquor supplies.  

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“We literally had Santa Claus coming here the next day to give out toys to some kids,” Legaux explained.  

After footing the cost to have the backdoor replaced, thieves broke into the restaurant again, this time stealing expensive kitchen equipment.  

Community members and regular customers, like Hughie Barnes, told KTLA why the creole-style restaurant is so important and popular.  

“My husband used to bring us here when the kids were small. It’s celebrating our culture,” 
 she explained. “I’m glad they’re resilient. That’s why they’ve been here so many years, they’re resilient.”  

As for Legaux, he’s hoping that by releasing the surveillance video someone may recognize the crooks, and they may ultimately get caught. In the meantime, a GoFundMe has been organized to help the restaurant repair the damage, replace stolen items and strengthen its security.

“We just wanted people to be aware, to be careful, make sure they lock up their homes and businesses,” he told KTLA’s Angeli Kakade.  

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While Legaux admits that the break-ins have been a setback, he said Harold & Belle’s was able to get back to business Monday morning.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Hollywood Hills 'hot prowl' suspect armed with knife taken into custody

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Hollywood Hills 'hot prowl' suspect armed with knife taken into custody

Police said a man is in custody after he allegedly attempted a “hot prowl” burglary while armed with a knife in the Hollywood Hills.

Officers responded to the reported burglary at about 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday at 3140 Hollyridge Drive, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The residents of the home were there at the time of the attempted home invasion, police said, and were the ones that called police.

Upon arrival, officers found the male suspect, between the ages of 35 and 50, armed with a knife. He refused officers’ demands, resulting in a lengthy standoff.

SWAT teams and mental health professionals arrived at the scene at about 10:30 p.m.

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The man, who remains unidentified as of Thursday morning, was taken into custody without incident at about 2:20 a.m.

No additional details were immediately made available.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Family searching for at-risk 51-year-old man missing in Southern California

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Family searching for at-risk 51-year-old man missing in Southern California

Detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are asking for the public’s help in locating an at-risk 51-year-old man missing out of Compton.  

Richard Gillett was last seen in the 800 block of South Center Avenue at around 1 p.m. on Jan. 1, authorities said in a missing persons bulletin.  

The 51-year-old is described as a Black male standing just under 5 feet tall, weighing around 100 pounds with brown eyes, curly gray hair and has missing front teeth.  

Richard Gillett, 51, seen in this undated photo released by the L.A. County Sheriff’s Dept. on Jan. 1, 2025.

He was last seen wearing white pants, a white jacket with black markings, black shoes and a gold watch. 

“Mr. Gillett has a moderate intellectual disability and requires medication,” the bulletin noted. “His family is concerned for his wellbeing and asking for the public’s help.”  

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Anyone with information on his whereabouts or who may have seen him is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.org.  

A “critically missing or at-risk person” is defined as: 

  • A person who has no pattern of running away or disappearing 
  • A person in critical need of medical attention 
  • The victim of a crime or foul play 
  • The victim of a kidnapping or parental abduction 
  • A person who is mentally impaired to the extent that such person is unable to care for him or herself or is an immediate danger to his or her own safety or the safety of others 
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Los Angeles, Ca

Camarillo High School to honor NBA star alumnus with jersey retirement

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Camarillo High School to honor NBA star alumnus with jersey retirement

Camarillo High School will honor one of its most successful alumni when it retires the No. 24 jersey of Jaime Jaquez Jr. later this month.

Jaquez, who starred for the Scorpions before playing at UCLA and now the Miami Heat, will be in town for his squad’s matchups with the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 13 and Lakers on Jan. 15, bookending his Jan. 14 jersey retirement ceremony, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Jaquez, 23, finished his Bruins career as one of the 10 best in school history in points, steals and games played, and he helped lead the team to a Final Four berth in 2021.

He left school in 2023 and was a first-round draft pick for the Heat, for whom he’s averaged 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1 steal per game up to this point in the 2024-25 season, his second as a pro.

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