Los Angeles, Ca
LAPD alerts West L.A. communities over surge in break-ins, burglaries
Police have issued a warning to residents in West Los Angeles, including the neighborhoods of Bel-Air, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades and Westwood to take extra caution due to a rise in residential burglaries.
Three masked suspects seen on surveillance video attempting to break into a Bel-Air home on Roscomare Road Saturday is the most recent incident where police say thieves targeted an upscale neighborhood.
Investigators believe as many as six suspects armed with tools were involved in the attempted burglary but were scared off by Los Angeles police responding overhead.
The suspects fled the area before officers arrived at the home.
In Brentwood on Friday two male suspects broke into a home in the 300 block of South Bunday around 10:30 p.m.
The suspects did gain entry and got away with items taken from the home.
Another Brentwood home was hit earlier this month as well. On Aug. 15, police responded to a home on San Vicente Boulevard where thieves broke in.
It was unclear if the residents were home at the time of the two Brentwood incidents.
Burglars at another Bel-Air home were chased off shortly after gaining entry on Aug. 8. but it was unclear if any items were taken.
The incidents have prompted the LAPD to issue an alert warning residents about organized crews of usually two to four males taking jewelry, handbags and cash from homes.
The burglars have been known to ransack rooms looking for valuables and often have a getaway car parked outside with someone acting as a lookout, the Santa Monica Mirror reported.
The getaway vehicles are often rentals with dealer plates or stolen plates, according to police.
Burglars may also be using wifi jammers to interrupt the signal or residential security cameras and use handheld radios to communicate, the Mirror reported.
Residents were given several suggestions to increase their home security:
- Install surveillance systems
- Secure sliding glass doors
- Bolt down safes, add GPS trackers
- Join watch programs
- Check for hidden recording devices
Residents were also urged to share information with neighbors and be on the lookout for drones in the neighborhood.
Los Angeles, Ca
Fort Irwin soldier allegedly murdered comrade
A soldier from Fontana has been charged with murder in the death of another soldier at Fort Irwin in San Bernardino County.
Spc. George Cornejo, 26, is accused of killing Spc. Andrew P. Smith on Oct. 28, military officials said in a press release.
Smith, 27, was found injured in his residence that day and later succumbed to his wounds, officials said when announcing his death. The Rye, New York, native had been stationed at Fort Irwin for more than two years.
The manner and possible motivation for the alleged murder were not released.
Cornejo has been in pre-trial custody since Oct. 29, and he’s expected to be transferred to the Naval Consolidated Brig in Miramar.
A preliminary hearing will be held to determine if Cornejo will be tried by court-martial.
Los Angeles, Ca
Vehicle, 2 occupants plunge into crowded Southern California harbor
Two people were taken to the hospital after a vehicle they were inside plunged into the harbor Sunday night in Marina Del Rey, officials confirmed to KTLA.
Details are limited and It’s unclear exactly how the incident occurred, but authorities with the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to 4675 Admiralty Way just after 6 p.m. on reports of the vehicle in the water.
L.A. County Fire Department Public Information Officer Marco Rodriguez said the two occupants were able to get themselves out of the vehicle after it went into the water.
Both were examined by medical personnel with the fire department and taken to a nearby hospital in unknown condition.
Rodriguez said that two L.A. County Lifeguard divers were deployed to ensure there were no other occupants trapped in the vehicle.
A witness, Johnny Hamcheck, told KTLA that a third person, a woman, exited the vehicle before it went into water, though officials did not confirm that detail.
Footage of the recovery effort showed crews attaching large yellow floating devices to the vehicle as it was anchored to a crane and eventually pulled out of the water and loaded onto a tow truck.
The vehicle showed heavy front-end damage, presumably from crashing through the steel railing and into the water.
An investigation into the crash is ongoing and no further details were provided.
Los Angeles, Ca
Armed robbers hit couple in broad daylight on high-end Beverly Hills street
Two people were hospitalized after a broad daylight armed robbery on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills Sunday, police confirmed to KTLA.
Officers with the Beverly Hills Police Department responded to the 400 block of North Rodeo Drive, at the intersection of Brighton Way just before 1:30 p.m. on reports of the incident.
According to a BHPD news release, a man and a woman were waiting outside a boutique when they were approached by four suspects, one of whom pulled out a gun during a physical altercation between the victims and the suspects.
“During the altercation, the suspects forcibly took two designer handbags – one from each victim – containing cash and cellphones,” police said. “One cellphone was recovered nearby. The suspects also attempted to steal the male victim’s jewelry but were unsuccessful.”
In video of a portion of the incident obtained by KTLA, four suspects all wearing dark clothing and hooded sweatshirts can be seen running from the scene. At least one of the suspects has an item, possibly one of the handbags, in his hands.
The crew was last seen running up Rodeo Drive and ducking into an alleyway.
It is unclear if anyone was injured, but the male victim was seen on the ground as the victim and another person knelt over him, one of which was yelling for help.
Medical personnel with the Beverly Hills Fire Department responded to the incident, but authorities said the man and woman sought their own medical attention at a local hospital.
Their conditions were not immediately available.
An investigation into the robbery remains ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact BHPD at 310-285-2125. 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.com.
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