LAPD Issues Community Alert Amid Surge in Upscale West LA Neighborhood Burglaries

Thieves Target High-End Valuables in Residential Break-Ins Across West Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has issued a community alert following a surge in residential burglaries across several upscale neighborhoods in West Los Angeles, including Bel Air, Bel Air Crest, Benedict Canyon, Beverly Glen, Beverlywood, Brentwood, Cheviot Hills, Holmby Hills, Little Holmby-Westwood, Pacific Palisades, Riviera, Westwood Hills, Westwood South areas. The warning comes after a series of break-ins targeting single-family homes, with thieves focusing on high-end valuables such as jewelry, luxury handbags, and cash.

According to the LAPD’s West Los Angeles Area Crime & Community Intelligence Center, the burglaries appear to be the work of an organized crew of 2 to 4 unidentified males. These suspects typically strike homes that seem unoccupied, often using ladders, outdoor furniture, or drain pipes to access second-story master bedrooms. 

The LAPD alert states that the suspects then smash or cut out a glass partition of the door, crawl in, and remove property. Once inside, they ransack the rooms for valuables like jewelry, watches, high-end purses, safes, and US currency. Often, suspects leave a lay-off/ getaway vehicle out front with a suspect acting as a lookout in case of law enforcement response. Suspects carry handheld short-range radios for communication with the lay-off vehicle/lookout. Suspects also carry a WIFI Jammer to disrupt the WIFI signal of wireless residential security cameras like RING or NEST.  

Residents are urged to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity. Police recommend several preventive measures, including installing video surveillance systems, securing sliding glass doors with poles or alarms, and ensuring that safes are bolted down and equipped with GPS tracking devices. Additionally, neighbors are encouraged to engage in community watch programs and share information through platforms like Ring or Nextdoor.

  • Sometimes, the suspects attempt entry while the victim is inside their residence.
  • Hours of crimes vary throughout the day and night.
  • Suspects are crews of multiple males, usually masked and gloved.
  • Suspect vehicles are usually rentals with dealer paper plates, temporary paper plates, or “cold plates”- freshly stolen plates that have not yet been reported.
  • Some suspect vehicles have been seen working in tandem with up to two cars. 
  • Suspects also remove the vehicle license plates before committing a crime to avoid police or surveillance detection.
  • A residence may be a greater target if it lacks video surveillance, an alarm system, or an active security guard on patrol. 
  • Check your backyards and residence perimeter for possible hidden recording devices, and be aware of drones (which are used to monitor a residence and residents’ patterns of life).

Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to contact LAPD Detective Carrillo at (310) 444-1568 or (213) 216-5308.

Related Posts

Palisades Council Urges Caltrans to Delay I-405 Repaving Project

June 25, 2025

June 25, 2025

The fire displaced thousands of residents, many of whom rely on the I-405 for travel and are already facing heavy...

July 4th Fireworks, Cruises and Rooftop Celebration Coming to Marina del Rey This Independence Day

June 25, 2025

June 25, 2025

Festive features include synchronized music, public shuttles, and $1 Summer WaterBus rides throughout the harbor Marina del Rey will mark...

Burglary Suspects Sought in Santa Monica Coffee Shop Burglary

June 25, 2025

June 25, 2025

Police noted a similar burglary occurred at Amai Coffee three months ago, and a nearby business, Dr. T House Santa...

(Video) WISE & Healthy Aging Helps Loved Ones Boost Their Quality of Life

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

See How the Nonprofit’s Innovative Programs Advance the Dignity of Life for Older Adults See How the Nonprofit’s Innovative Programs...

Palisades Flowers Raises Over $10K, Nears Goal After Fire Destroys Shop

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

The blaze claimed the shop’s delivery van, tools, plants, and flowers, erasing a space that Phipps said was more than...

Palisades Schools Announce Reopening Plans For Fall

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

The plans address challenges posed by ongoing restoration and rebuilding efforts Schools in the Palisades area have outlined their reopening...

(Video) Food Fight: Chefs Join Forces to Raise Money to Protect Immigrant Families in Venice

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

Estrano, Little Dynamite, Sunday Gravy, Kabob Senpai Answer the Call From Turk’s Pizza Party. Dave Turkel Put This Food Resistance...

(Video) This is Downtown Palisades Six Months After the Devastating Wildfires

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

With Only a Few Businesses Remaining and Reopened, The Once-Idyllic District is Still Mostly Charred Remains With Only a Few...

After Losing Medals in Wildfire, Olympian Leaves Palisades for South Florida

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

Hall, who had lived in the 1958-built Pacific Palisades home since 2020, ran his successful water safety school, Sea Monkeys...

Santa Monica to Begin AI-Powered Bus Lane Enforcement in July

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

The program follows a 45-day pilot conducted earlier this year along Lincoln Boulevard, where 511 potential violations were identified, though...

Sculptor-Designed Marina Del Rey Beach Home Hits Market for Nearly $10M

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

The four-bedroom, six-bathroom residence, known as Shore House, features black glass windows across two wings A 6,603-square-foot beachfront home, designed...

Real Estate Trends Emerge in Palisades as Rebuild Begins

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

With an estimated 2,000 properties affected by the fires, these initial sales represent only a fraction of what’s expected In...

LADWP to Host Virtual Town Hall on Santa Ynez Reservoir, Underground Power Lines

June 22, 2025

June 22, 2025

Residents can submit questions in advance through an online RSVP form The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)...

All Aboard to LAX: Metro Opens Game-Changing Transit Hub Ahead of Global Events

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

New LAX/Metro Transit Center Comes Closer to Connecting Metro Directly to LAX The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)...

Strongman to Pull 34,680-Pound Bus at Santa Monica Pier

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

Licis, also the 2022 “Arnold Strongman Classic” champion, will undertake the feat to showcase his strength  Strongman Martins Licis, the...