West Hollywood has undergone a violent start to the new year, with a spree of crimes unsettling its streets, according to a report released by the West Hollywood Station. In the early hours of New Year's Day, an argument over a traffic collision on the 1000 block of Orlando Avenue escalated into violence as a man fired gunshots at another, resulting in a bullet grazing the victim's head, reported at roughly 3:00 AM.
In a chilling incident, detailed by the West Hollywood crime report, a robbery took place at Santa Monica Blvd around 12:39 AM; a man was forced to hand over his money at gunpoint while at an ATM. A string of thefts also plagued the area with looters targeting everything from electric drills and shoes after breaking into a storage locker on Cynthia Street, to valuables like cameras and clothing from unlocked or unforced vehicles.
Burglaries continued throughout the week with several apartments and businesses targeted. A residence on Clarke Drive had a laptop stolen directly from the living room, and an attempt to pry open a side door on Melrose Avenue was fortunately unsuccessful. On Hilldale Avenue, a homeowner's vigilance scared away an intruder who ventured into his living room in the dead of night.
Violence reared its ugly head again on January 6. At Santa Monica Blvd, a man, after his overly inebriated friend was denied club access, bit two club employees multiple times during a resulting brawl. The suspect was later apprehended by deputies in their prompt response. Crimes of opportunity also saw an increase, with muggings on Melrose Avenue and a woman being assaulted for her fanny pack, which followed a suspect wrenching phones from victims' hands in Westmount Drive and West Knoll Drive altercations, according to the same report.
The week culminated in yet another flash of aggression on Genesee Avenue, where a heated argument led to a woman chasing a man with a knife, attempting to stab him after accusations of infidelity, detailed the same report. Thankfully, deputies promptly arrested the assailant. Local nightclubs also became hunting grounds for thieves, as patrons reported cell phones plucked from pockets and purses on the dance floor. In seven days, West Hollywood's sense of security was rattled, leaving the community on alert and authorities urging vigilance.
