Early on March 6, a typical morning for our family turned into a nightmare. Both my husband and I were out, and during that time, our home was burglarized. The back-door glass was shattered, and this breach of security has left us feeling vulnerable and neglected by those who are supposed to protect us.
Around 7:30 a.m., shortly after I left, a burglar dressed in black and wearing a mask scoped out our home. Our security cameras recorded him assessing the property before he broke in through the back door. This was all unseen by us until we got back.
He crawled in, dodged the security camera and turned it away. He then rifled through our belongings, focusing on the master bedroom. Among the stolen items were my wedding ring, anniversary pearls, my husband’s 20-year service watch and my grandmother’s rings.
Finding the break-in was shocking, made worse by a slow police response. It took them 30 minutes to arrive, during which a neighbor and I checked if the burglar was still there. The officers’ demeanor suggested a familiarity with such incidents, a routine aspect of their daily rounds, implying little expectation of recovery or justice for our losses.
When I went to the West LA police station to list the stolen items, I found out there’s only one detective handling burglaries for the area. This revelation highlighted the lack of resources and attention given to our community’s safety.
This incident didn’t just cost us valuables; it eroded our trust in local security and the police. Being just another statistic in a seemingly overwhelmed system is a call for better police response and more resources for West LA. We’re advocating for community unity and improvement in how our safety is handled.
We’re left wondering how many similar stories must occur before significant changes are made. By sharing what happened to us, we hope to spark discussions that will lead to a safer community for everyone.
Wendy M. Garff
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