A spree of burglaries and other crimes has been plaguing North Hollywood since the start of the year, and three individuals have been arrested in connection with these incidents. The Los Angeles Police Department reported that the series of 25 crimes, which included residential and commercial burglaries, vehicle thefts, assault with a deadly weapon, and criminal threats, took place between January and March.
In their efforts to apprehend the culprits, detectives were able to identify a pattern of behavior which led them to arrest the suspected members of what they have called a "coordinated burglary crew." According to FOX LA, the three suspects, who police have described as unhoused, were taken into custody individually in late March. Security and doorbell camera footage played a critical role in the investigation, and the suspects reportedly admitted to committing these crimes to support their drug use.
The first suspect, an adult male, was caught on March 27 while riding a bicycle near Chandler Boulevard and Colfax Avenue, as shared in a statement obtained by CBS News Los Angeles. That same day, the second male suspect was found in a tent on a freeway embankment by the Violent Crime Task Force. The third suspect, a female, was arrested on March 23 after a radio call about a woman screaming brought officers to the scene.
The Van Nuys District Attorney's Office has filed 25 felony counts against the triad, including 16 counts of burglary, seven of grand theft auto, one of felony evading, and one of criminal threats. LAPD Police Chief Jim McDonnell praised the efforts of the officers involved, saying, "I want to take a moment to extend my sincere thanks to the detectives and officers from the North Hollywood Area, as well as our officers from the Violent Crime Task Force, for their outstanding work." This quote was echoed in a post on the department's official Instagram account, as noted in an Instagram post.
