LAPD Reports Local Increase in Crime

By MAGNOLIA LAFLEUR | Reporter

Pacific Palisades has had an increase of residential burglaries, car break-ins and catalytic converters being stolen, according to Los Angeles Police Department Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin.

In year-to-date information provided by Espin as of November 7, the Palisades had a total of 71 burglaries reported, up from 51 as of that date in 2020. Cases of grand theft auto were up 41 from 39 in 2020, with instances of burglary/theft from motor vehicles up to 194 from 159 in 2020. The number of burglary/theft from motor vehicles reported at this time in 2019 was 121.

When it comes to theft, there is a slight decrease, with year-to-date data showing 76 reports in 2021 and 80 as of this time in 2020.

One reason why car break-ins are occurring at increasing rates is due to people leaving valuables in their car, Espin told the Post, as well as 20% to 40% of reports being made by people who had left their vehicles unlocked.

“I try and tell the community to be a good pair of eyes on the street,” Espin expressed. “Most criminals do not want to be noticed, so acknowledging and letting their neighbors know what is happening on the street also helps prevent crime in the area.”

Espin reported that in a two-week span, there were specific reports of people experiencing homelessness breaking into homes, including a suspect that attempted to squat in a guest house. The other incident was a woman who attempted to go in through the window of a home, but was thwarted by the homeowner who pushed her head out of the window with a basket.

“I encourage everyone to get a security system that will give you instant notification if someone is on your property,” Espin suggested as part of one of his weekly crime reports.

He explained that having an accurate and detailed description of the suspect “will bump [LAPD] response up to a priority call instead of a non-priority (alarm only).”

During one week in October, there were reported burglaries and car break-ins in the crime report, including one on Fiske Street where an unknown suspect used an unknown tool to gain entry into a locked vehicle and stole property.

Another suspect entered a residence on Ocean Way that week by pushing a rear locked window, and a third suspect approached a victim near Sunset and Pacific Coast Highway while he was filming, stealing his nearby property and then fleeing the scene.

Espin encouraged residents to take extra precautions by having the security system cameras on their property angled toward different directions showing vehicles, suspects or any information that would be useful to investigators.

“It’s helpful for an investigation to have one or more cameras angled toward the street or sidewalk,” Espin explained in a crime report. “Investigators can backtrack areas where people are seen coming from based on video footage.”

He also reiterated the importance of locking the house and car doors, and not leaving any valuables in sight in the car, as it increases the odds of peaking curiosity, which can lead to car break-ins.

“Let’s make it harder for these criminals to get our stuff,” he concluded.