Neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley have been suffering from an uptick of residential burglaries that have rattled the community. The latest two cases were reported late Sunday night and early Monday morning, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The first incident took place in Studio City around 11 p.m. Sunday. Per the LAPD, a 911 caller told dispatch that they saw a person gain entry into a residence in the 12000 block of Rye Street.
“Officers arrived, searched the location [and found] the homeowner possibly shot a round,” an LAPD spokesperson said. “The suspect left the location before LAPD officers arrived.”
It was not immediately known if the suspect was struck by gunfire or whether anything was stolen from the home, but a burglary report was taken, the spokesperson said.
Officers were seen investigating the property, which has a high wall around the perimeter and a gated driveway.
The second burglary was reported less than four hours later and two miles away in the 4000 block of Longwood Avenue in the adjacent Sherman Oaks neighborhood.
The homeowners were not at home when burglars struck around 2:20 a.m., authorities said. Like the Encino home that was hit hours prior, this home also had a gated driveway and a wall around the perimeter of the property.
“Upon further investigation, officers determined that four suspects wearing gloves and backpacks entered the home,” LAPD said. “It is unknown if anything was taken.”
No further details on either incident were released. It is unknown if they are related.
These latest incidents are the latest in a noticeable increase in burglaries in the San Fernando Valley, particularly in the Studio City, Sherman Oaks and Encino neighborhoods — all of which contain many luxury homes.
An especially high-profile case involved “American Idol” executive Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca, both of whom were found shot to death in their upscale Encino home on July 14. Speaking to KTLA the following day, a neighbor said that a renter on her property had previously called police on July 10 to report someone climbing a fence outside Kaye and Deluca’s home.
Days after the killings, a 22-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident. In addition to two counts of murder, Raymond Boodarian is charged with one count of first-degree residential burglary after it was found he allegedly hopped a fence and gained entry through an unlocked door.
Law enforcement officials have promised residents they are taking steps to “restore peace” in the area; however, just a day after the LAPD chief announced measures to prevent further incidents, another home in Encino was hit.
In a similar incident to the one which occurred in Studio City on Sunday night, a Hollywood Hills homeowner held an intruder at gunpoint over the weekend until police arrived and took him into custody.
It should be noted that the San Fernando Valley saw an increase in burglaries last summer as well, with Sherman Oaks and Encino being targeted then as well as the nearby Van Nuys neighborhood. In one case, burglars struck the same home twice in three days.
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