Five people were caught on home surveillance video stealing a pickup truck from a West Hills driveway early Saturday, and the Los Angeles Police Department says it is now looking for the group. The footage appears to show at least one person smashing a window to get inside before the suspects climb in and drive away.
According to NBC Los Angeles, the video aired on Today in LA and shows the group approaching the vehicle at about 3 a.m. Saturday. The station reported that no detailed suspect descriptions were immediately available.
Officers were dispatched at 2:27 a.m. to a residential alarm in the 24400 block of Highlander Road, Officer Jason Lee of the LAPD’s Media Relations Section told MyNewsLA. Lee said investigators wrote a grand theft auto report and that no injuries were reported.
Neighbors told local outlets that the stolen truck contained tools and important paperwork, and one resident called the theft "concerning," according to AOL's coverage. A broadcast report also said two children at the home were told to stay put during the incident, and police have not said whether the vehicle has been recovered.
San Fernando Valley burglary surge
The West Hills theft is part of a broader wave of break-ins across the San Fernando Valley. The Los Angeles Times reported earlier this month that six homes were hit in a single week while detectives investigated possible links between the cases. LAPD officials said the department has increased patrols in the Valley and assigned detectives to pursue leads.
Police ask for tips
Police are asking anyone with information about the West Hills theft to contact the Los Angeles Police Department, local coverage noted. Anonymous tips can be submitted to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, and additional reporting options are listed on the LAPD website.
