Los Angeles Man Charged With Burglary, Assault in Series of Attacks on Women in Reseda

Los Angeles police have apprehended a 30-year-old man, Diamon Smith, in connection with a string of burglaries targeting women, particularly the elderly, within the Reseda area. Smith was linked to a January 2nd burglary on Vanowen Street where an elderly woman was assaulted in her home. Upon further investigation, detectives connected him to at least three additional residential burglaries involving female victims in single-family homes and apartments, CBS Los Angeles reports.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, "Investigators strongly believe there are other victims who have yet to be identified," suggesting a broader pattern of predatory behavior. ABC7 shared insights from LAPD Capt. Brian Wendling, who stated, "We had four burglaries that occurred, and it appeared that the object of those burglaries was not property inside the residences, but was actually the people living inside, specifically women."

The geographical scope of the crimes stretches from Vanowen Street to the north and Victory Boulevard to the south, with its eastern and western boundaries being Reseda Boulevard and Tampa Avenue, respectively. Notably, the first burglary and assault incident occurred near the West Valley LAPD Station. This proximity, seemingly brazen in the face of a potential quick law enforcement response, hints at a risk-taking behavior pattern in the suspect's modus operandi.

Police disclosed that Smith, a lifelong resident of the San Fernando Valley, is a known individual to the detectives yet details of his past encounters with law enforcement were not elaborated upon. Detective Joseph Hampton told ABC7 that Smith is charged with residential burglary and assault with the intent to commit rape. The technique Smith purportedly employed involved initiating conversation with potential victims near their homes, a tactic that manipulates social norms for nefarious purposes.

LAPD is actively seeking additional information and encourages anyone with further details to reach out to their detectives at (818) 374-7742 as the investigation continues. The dissemination of this information, including through an LAPD News post from @kcalnews, signals an ongoing effort to both capture the full extent of Smith’s alleged criminal actions and to provide a channel of support for those who may have suffered silently.