LAPD Community Alert: Increased Residential Burglaries in Bel-Air

Please see below an important message from West Los Angeles LAPD's Senior Lead Officer Christopher Ragsdale:

There has been a series of Residential Burglaries developing in the Hillside communities north of Sunset Blvd. The suspects typically knock or ring the doorbell to verify if anyone is home. When there is no answer, the suspects enter the side or rear of the residence and force entry typically by smashing the window or door glass to gain entry. Suspects are targeting the master bed and bath areas of the home and removing Jewelry, cash, small valuables and small electronics.

RECENT CRIME SUMMARY for Bel-Air and adjacent hillside communities:

1000 block Casiano Road. (RD: 0805). On 8/9/16, at 6:45 PM, suspect forced entry through front double doors to gain entry ransacking several rooms. Resident returned home and observed a black Mercedes (later determined to be stolen) parked in the driveway hearing activity inside the residence and called 911. *Suspect was located and arrested inside the residence. *

15400 block Hamner Drive. (RD: 0805). Construction/Remodel Site. Between 8/8/16 and 8/9/16, unknown suspect(s) pried open rear sliding glass door to gain entry ransacking rooms removing a flat television.

1300 block Summitridge Drive. (RD: 0808). On 8/7/16, between 2:00 AM and 4:00 AM, three suspects forced entry through side gate and side French door to gain entry ransacking several rooms. Resident returned home surprising suspects in the act who fled from location taking small electronics.

13300 block Mulholland Drive. (RD: 0808). On 8/6/16, at 4:00 AM, suspect jumped over wall and entered unlocked rear door. Resident who was awakened by barking dog confronted suspect which resulted in an altercation. The suspect then fled on foot.

11200 block Chalon Road. (RD: 0805). Between 8/5/16 and 8/6/16, suspect entered residence through doggie door, removed keys to BMW and stole the vehicle which was parked in the driveway. **On 8/8/16, suspect was located and apprehended with vehicle and vehicle recovered.

1600 block Summitridge Drive. (RD: 0808). On 8/4/16, between 10:00 AM and 5:30 PM, unknown suspect(s) entered residence through unlocked rear door, ransacked rooms removing jewelry.

15400 block Mulholland Drive. (RD: 0805). Between 8/3/16 and 8/4/16, unknown suspect(s) pried and smashed open front door window glass to gain entry removed television and furniture.

900 block Roscomare Road. (RD: 0805). Construction/Remodel Site. Between 8/3/16 and 8/4/16, unknown suspect(s) forced open rear door to gain entry removing construction tools.

2800 Bottlebrush Drive. (RD: 0807). On 8/2/16, at 9:35 PM, four suspects unsuccessfully attempted to smash rear glass door to gain entry and fled when alarm sounded without gaining entry.

100 block N. Thurston Ave. (RD: 0805). Construction/Remodel Site. Between 8/1/16 and 8/2/16, unknown suspect(s) smashed rear window to gain entry and removed power tools.

Immediate Detection!  Is key to prevention and apprehension. The Los Angeles Police Department recommends the following tips to help secure your home and harden the target:

· ALARMS: Ensure that security alarms are in good working order and set when not at home whether leaving for 10 minutes or 10 hours. Accessible upstairs doors & windows should have alarm sensors and upstairs rooms should have motion sensors to include the master bedroom.

· ALARM RESPONSE: Consider a private patrol alarm response to enhance your current alarm and security system. In many cases private patrols are already contracted in many neighborhoods or associations.

· SURVEILLANCE/SECURITY CAMERAS: Web based surveillance and doorbell camera systems will allow homeowners to view and monitor activity from any smartphone or computer which are motion sensor activated and will alert your device when there is activity. They will also lend valuable information and clues to the investigation.

· MOTION SENSOR LIGHTING: Install motion sensor lighting around your home to illuminate normally dark areas around the home. This will also alert residents to outside activity around the home when motion lights are activated.

· GATES: Ensure that all gates and access points to the side or rear of the residence are locked and secured.

· DOOR AND WINDOW LOCKS: Ensure that all doors and windows are locked and secured with sturdy secured locks and that there are second locking mechanisms securing all doors and windows as a second line of defense.

· MAKE IT LOOK LIKE YOU’RE HOME…Even when you’re not.

· NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH: Monitor suspicious activities in your neighborhood and alert your neighbors. Should the activity escalate to a crime about to occur, crime in progress or crime that just occurred, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY!

· SECURITY PATROLS: Consider after hours on site security at construction sites or major remodel projects. Many neighborhoods contract with private security patrols which monitor neighborhoods and can quickly respond to burglar alarm activations or reports of suspicious activity when they occur.

You may access crime mapping at by clicking on our website's LINKS heading and then click on "Crime Reports from LA Times" to get user-friendly updated information, or by going to www.crimemapping.com to review recent crimes in your area.