WEST VALLEY SAFETY MEETING
ENCINO BURGLARIES STATEMENT
Our office is deeply alarmed by the recent cluster of residential break-ins in Encino. It is our top priority at this time to bring together the full capacity of the City to prevent this string of crimes from continuing and to ensure residents are safe.
LAPD has been providing additional patrols in the area, which will be supplemented with support from the volunteer reserves. Additionally, LAPD’s Commercial Crimes Division – responsible for investigating property and financial crime – has partnered with the West Valley Division, which means increased investigative resources focused on these incidents as well as sustained interjurisdictional communication, including with the Sheriff’s Office. We urge residents to visit the LAPD’s website for crime prevention tips for your home, your business, yourself and your family, HERE.
Our office hosted a public information session on August 8th, with the Mayor’s Office, LAPD, as well as other elected officials from impacted jurisdictions. A recording of the meeting is available above.
I want to underscore three important things shared with us by LAPD:
- A taskforce has been put in place to provide dedicated resources toward investigating these home burglaries. Chief Flores also shared that increased patrols are occurring on residential streets, including mounted horse patrols, foot beats, and additional cars.
- LAPD recommends hardening your home by placing hardwired cameras not just at your front door, but at the sides of your house, and the back of your house, trimming back overgrown trees and bushes in order not to obstruct views, and ensuring that your house is well lit at night.
- If you see something that seems suspicious, be sure to report it to LAPD. Any lead, no matter how minor you think it is, will be helpful for investigators. For certain minor incidents, you can file a report online via the Community Online Reporting System (CORS) HERE or call the LAPD non-emergency line at 877-ASK-LAPD. To submit a tip to law enforcement anonymously, you can do so online HERE or by calling 1-800-222-8477. *Please note that if an actual crime is occurring, you should reach out to 9-1-1 immediately.
I hope that hearing from law enforcement officials who help keep our neighborhoods safe provided you with the information and tools needed to stay safe and secure.
No one should have to live in fear in their own home, and my office is committed to ensuring the safety of all our residents.