Los Angeles, Ca
San Fernando Valley businesses vandalized in possible antisemitic hate crimes
San Fernando Valley business owners are distraught after multiple stores were vandalized Monday in a series of possible antisemitic hate crimes.
The businesses included a tire shop, paint stores, a sign shop, restaurants, a mattress store, a dance studio an In-N-Out and more. Several of the businesses were Jewish-owned, police said.
On Jan. 6, at around 3 a.m., officers responded to three vandalism incidents within three blocks of the 20900 block of Victory Boulevard in Woodland Hills.
The suspect used rocks and cement bricks to smash the glass windows and doors of several businesses before fleeing the area on foot.
On Jan. 8, between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., police believe the same suspect vandalized additional businesses on Vanowen Street, Topanga Canyon Boulevard, and Sherman Way in Canoga Park.
All stores were found with shattered windows and damaged exteriors caused by rocks and bricks. The rocks found at the scenes had the words, “Glory” and “Pay Up” written on them, said LAPD.
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Large rocks were used to shatter the front glass doors with the words, “Pay Up” or “Glory” written on them. -
A suspect wanted for smashing glass windows and doors in a series of possible hate crimes targeting stores in the San Fernando Valley in January 2024. -
A suspect wanted for smashing glass windows and doors in a series of possible hate crimes targeting stores in the San Fernando Valley in January 2024. -
A mezuzah hanging on the door of a vandalized business, -
A suspect wanted for smashing glass windows and doors in a series of possible hate crimes targeting stores in the San Fernando Valley in January 2024. -
Large rocks were used to shatter the front glass doors with the words, “Pay Up” or “Glory” written on them. -
A suspect wanted for smashing glass windows and doors in a series of possible hate crimes targeting stores in the San Fernando Valley in January 2024. -
A suspect wanted for smashing glass windows and doors in a series of possible hate crimes targeting stores in the San Fernando Valley in January 2024. -
A suspect wanted for smashing glass windows and doors in a series of possible hate crimes targeting stores in the San Fernando Valley in January 2024.
Security video outside Weiler’s Deli and Restaurant in Canoga Park captured the male suspect walking up to the deli and smashing the glass doors with a large rock.
The deli’s owner, identified only as Nima, later found the rock where the words, “Pay Up” were written on it.
Nima is Jewish and believes he may have been targeted because a mezuzah was displayed at the entrance. A mezuzah is a case containing Hebrew verses that Jewish people affix to doorposts.
“I initially didn’t think it was a targeted hate crime but after learning from a few of my friends that other Jewish businesses were targeted, then I was like, ‘Oh, he didn’t take anything other than just vandalizing the store.’”
A video from another vandalized business, Catalina Paints on Topanga Boulevard, shows the suspect smashing glass doors with a large rock containing the same message of “Pay Up.”
“We happened to be Jewish-owned,” said Diego Salvatierra, operations manager at Catalina Paints. “That’s upsetting. They’re really good people. Family-owned, just really good people.”
“I feel this was done, very obviously because of that mezuzah,” said Mark Lawrence from Trophyman, another victimized business.
“When I get asked, ‘Are you sure it’s a hate crime? There’s a stone that says, ‘“Pay Up,’” said Guy Ziv from AlumLA, a vandalized store in Woodlands Hills. “I’m the only one with mezuzah here that got broken into. You see this guy not even thinking twice, throwing a huge rock into my window. That’s what raised my concern.”
Several security cameras from different stores captured what appears to be the same man hurling rocks at storefronts over the past several days. The series of vandalisms all occurred within a two-mile radius, police said.
Police are still investigating whether the incidents are all related. Some residents, however, don’t believe it’s a hate crime and instead believe the general area just isn’t that safe.
“I don’t think it’s because of the hate,” said Mali Shajari, owner of Mali’s Studio. “There’s a lot of homeless that come back and forth here. Every six or seven months, this happens.”
As authorities continue investigating the incidents, victimized owners are working on cleaning up damaged businesses hoping the suspect is caught soon.
“Maybe he wants just wants some sort of revenge toward different religions or people? Nima wondered. “Not 100 percent sure.”
The suspect is described as a man around 45 to 55 years old of unknown ethnicity. He stands around 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs about 170 pounds.
He is balding and has a gray or white beard. During the incidents, he was seen wearing Nike hoodies with black pants and white Nike sneakers.
Police believe there are other victims who have yet to be identified. A photograph of the suspect was released in hopes more victims will come forward and the suspect will be identified soon.
LAPD said at least two of the incidents are now being investigated as possible hate crimes.
Investigators believe there are other victims who have yet to be identified. A photograph of the suspect is being released in hopes the public may recognize the man,
Anyone who may be a victim or has information about the case is asked to call LAPD Detectives Beard or Patin at 213-486-7280. The public can also call LAPD at 1-877-527-3247.
Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222- 8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
The future of voice to text is here.
I’ve been testing a variety of tools that make taking notes, transcribing audio, and even voice typing faster and easier than ever.
If you have a smartphone, you’re already halfway there!
Google’s Pixel Recorder app is free and built into their smartphone. It’s excellent for transcribing meetings, lectures, and conversations – all in real time.
Apple’s Voice Memos App recently added transcriptions if you’re upgraded to iOS 18.
Samsung’s Voice recorder app now offers transcripts too – as long as you’re on their latest One UI 7 software. (Check Settings > About Phone > Software Information)
Got an older phone? Try Otter.AI. It works great for transcriptions across devices and you get 300 minutes a month free.
Don’t want to tie up your phone?
I’ve been testing AI-powered digital audio recorders from a startup named Plaud.
The Plaud Note is thin, records for hours, and can even clip to the back of your phone to record calls. Just make sure you know your local laws before using that feature.
The Plaud Pin can be clipped to your shirt or worn on your wrist for hands-free recording.
Both devices sync audio to a companion app that auto transcribes and summarizes.
You get five hours of transcription a month included, with options to pay for more.
Pricing for each gadget starts around $160 dollars.
Want to transcribe audio files on your computer?
My favorite Mac app is MacWhisper. You can even get it completely free – although paid versions are avaialble with more features and options.
On Windows, check out Vibe Transcribe, also free.
And for a web-based option, Whisper Web gets the job done.
Finally, if you want to type less and talk more… there’s an excellent AI voice-to-text app called Wispr Flow. It was previously Mac only but just became avaialble for Windows, too.
One you install it, you pick a hotkey. Then, instead of typing just press and hold down that key and dictate what you want to write.
Since it uses the power of AI, you can even stumble or ramble and it will clean up your words and get the punctionation right.
It’s a gamechanger for responding to emails fast! You get 2,000 words free each week with options to pay for more.
Enjoy your newfound time!
An alleged attack on a state prison officer by a 43-year-old inmate transferred from Los Angeles County is being investigated as attempted homicide, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials announced Tuesday.
The March 18 incident at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad reportedly unfolded just before 9 a.m. on what authorities describe as a “dayroom floor.”
The inmate, Anthony G. Ramirez, is believed to have pulled an improvised weapon from his waistband before attempting to attack custody staff member, according to a CDCR news release.
“Staff immediately responded, disarming Ramirez and placing him in handcuffs without incident,” the release detailed.
The 43-year-old, who was transferred to SVSP in 2008 after being sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for second-degree murder, with enhancements for the use of a firearm and causing great bodily injury or death, was placed in restrictive housing pending the investigation and possible felony prosecution by the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.
Both Ramirez and the custody staff member were examined by medical personnel who noted no serious injuries.
Officials said that the California Correctional Peace Officers Association was notified of the incident and prison staff were offered peer support services and employee assistance programs.
Salinas Valley State Prison, opened in 1996, houses more than 2,400 minimum, medium, maximum and high-security inmates. The facility also offers vocational programs and academic classes and employs some 1,800 people.
A toxic algal bloom leaving an increasing number of marine mammals stranded along Southern California beaches shows no signs of subsiding and “will only get worse,” officials said Monday.
“This week, we saw more stranded dolphins (both alive and deceased) than we saw during the major domoic acid (DA) bloom in 2023,” Marine Mammal Care Center (MMCC) Los Angeles posted on Facebook.
Recent tests showed DA-producing algae levels have increased, and officials believe that trend will continue in the coming weeks. “We anticipate that it will only get worse,” the post read.
MMCC asked the public not to approach sick dolphins or sea lions on the beach because they can become aggressive upon awakening from a seizure.
“This is a safety issue for people and their pets as much as it is for the marine mammals,” officials said.
Beachgoers were also urged not to push stranded dolphins back into the water, saying it can reduce their chances of survival.
More information about domoic-acid poisoning can be found at https://marinemammalcare.org/domoic-acid/.
The volume of sick marine mammals has also had a financial impact on the MMCC.
“Our team is working heroically to respond to every call and to rescue every animal they can. Please share this post and give now at marinemammalcare.org/donate to give these marine mammals a second chance at life!” the MMCC stated.
Anyone who encounters a sick or stranded marine mammal can alert the nearest lifeguard and call 1-800-39-WHALE to make a report.
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