Hundreds of residents in the San Fernando Valley’s Studio City neighborhood are taking to technology to spread information and surveillance amid a seeming surge in residential burglaries in the area.
One of the residents spearheading the neighborhood watch, identified only as Matt out of security concerns, was nearly a victim of thieves recently, his surveillance cameras capturing a trio of masked suspects hopping over his fence and onto his property.
“We’ve got hundreds of eyes on the street,” he explained. “When we see things, we let people know quickly and then we’ll convey it to LAPD.”
Fortunately, the thieves at his home were deterred by his child’s nanny who was watching them from inside the home.
Matt was then able to notify 350 of his watchful neighbors via a WhatsApp text chain.
“They wear these black hoodies and cover their faces. They’re almost like gymnasts,” he explained. “They’re leaping the fences like it’s a pommel horse. Despite having spikes on the top of my gate, they still jumped over.”
Neighbor Patti Eskander told KTLA’s Rachel Menitoff that there have been at least two burglaries within the last week within a very small radius, both of them happening in broad daylight.
“Everyone was watching,” she said. “That’s the weird thing. All the neighbors were out and walking around and they didn’t care.”
Eskander believes a black Mercedes, which had its license plate covered with a towel, is response for at least one of the “hot prowls” on her street.
The vehicle bears a striking resemblance to a black four-door Mercedes involved in a Woodland Hills burglary that unfolded just this afternoon, where two men were seen carrying a safe out of a home in the 4800 block of Canoga Avenue and putting into the trunk of the vehicle, which also had the license plate covered.
Concerns of residents in Studio City and Woodland Hills mirror those in Encino where there have been a rash of home break-ins, robberies and even the grisly double murder of Robin Kaye, an executive on American Idol, and her musician husband Thomas DeLuca.
The couple was found days after the break-in suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, including to the head.
A 22-year-old man, who reportedly called 911 himself from inside the couple’s home, was arrested in connection with those killings.
City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian, who represents L.A.’s 2nd District, which includes Studio released a statement to KTLA about the uptick in burglaries, saying:
“I have a word of warning for any burglars or potential burglars out there. You might think you’re going to get away with it, but you’re not. You’re going to get caught. There are eyes everywhere.”
For Eskander, the fear of thieves targeting her home is very real.
“My family is with me at least temporarily, but when they move out and I’m alone with my guard dog, it’s going to be problematic,” she said.
Officials with the L.A. Police Department said they can’t go into specifics about enforcement efforts but did say other neighborhoods have experienced similar situations and there will be a lot of “observation” in the neighborhood.
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