Officers and detectives from the West LA Police Department Community Police station have held two Zoom town hall meetings to address concerns over the 368 burglaries reported in West LA during 2023.
The meeting was convened by the Senior Lead Officers covering the Brentwood, Pacific Palisades and Bel Air areas of West LA. SLO Brian Espin talked about the challenges faced by LAPD in policing the extensive WLA area, including his belief that there is are officer shortages for the large geographic area.
Detective Hoebink from the LAPD’s burglary unit outlined the department’s strategies, which includes using heat maps as seen above to guide deployment of officers. He explained that the three primary groups of individuals behind the increase in burglaries include: local transients, Los Angeles based gangs, and theft groups based in South America, each displaying different methods of operation. The detective noted that the San Fernando Valley has also been a target for these groups.
On January 3rd, LAPD officers reported significant progress in resolving recent Westside burglaries. Arrests of 12 individuals were made and over $1 million of stolen goods recovered. Those apprehended were primarily associated with a crime ring based in South America. LAPD reps indicated that the arrests should result in a decrease in Westside neighborhoods including Brentwood, Bel Air, Benedict Canyon, and the Mulholland area.
Efforts to reunite owners with their stolen goods are ongoing. Photographs of some of the recovered items were shared online at the end of the meeting. The LAPD is asking for assistance in identifying owners of the recovered property and urged any burglary victims to contact them for help in reclaiming their belongings. The LAPD can be reached at 1-877-275-5273. (Dial 911 in emergencies.)
The officers stressed the importance of community vigilance and urged citizens to report any unusual activities, including the presence of unknown drones or vehicles. They noted the importance of video evidence in solving crimes, with videos contributing to about 70% of resolved cases. Residents were reminded to take precautions in the home, including:
- Locking all doors and securing windows
- Installing alarm systems and cameras linked to mobile devices
- Using motion detector lights
- Considering a dog for added security
- Building strong neighborly relations and ensuring that mail and packages are not left unattended.
Neighborhood Watch is a proven effective program that deters crime. It is also an important asset in times of emergencies and natural disasters. Block captains help to gather info to be shared among neighbors and help to encourage neighbors looking out for neighbors. On some blocks it is neighborhood watch that introduced neighbors who have lived side by side for years!
IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHO YOUR BLOCK CAPTAIN IS, IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT YOUR BLOCK DOES NOT HAVE A CAPTAIN or CO-CAPTAINS. Block captains help to organize NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH and gather and circulate information among neighbors. WSSM sends out notifications to captains that can be shared with the block to keep all current on any crime updates and other relevant info.
Our WSSM block captain/neighborhood watch program was quiet during Covid-19 and we have gaps to fill in covering the community. We invite those interested in helping to organize their block to contact our block captain coordinators: Dee Maddock (dmdock@aol.com) or Pat Tobias (pattobias@msn.com). WSSM will provide you with all necessary information and forms and can help plan a block meeting for those who would like to meet with other neighbors and our LAPD Senior Lead Officer to launch your block’s neighborhood watch.