Thieves smashed their way into an Encino home late Sunday and tore the place apart, grabbing high-end watches and purses in a hit police say topped $50,000 in losses. The crew slipped in while the homeowners were out, then slipped back out before officers ever got to the scene.
Police: Smash-and-grab at quiet Encino cul-de-sac
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, West Valley officers were called around 8:30 p.m. to the 17700 block of Corinthian Drive, where they found a shattered window and a home turned upside down. Detectives told NBC Los Angeles that a watch and several purses were taken, with the haul valued at more than $50,000.
The resident, who was out at the time of the break-in, later sat down with investigators to review home-security footage. The video showed someone leaving through the front door, but by the time West Valley officers arrived, the burglars were long gone. As of Monday morning, police had not announced any arrests.
Valley burglary surge triggers stepped-up patrols
The Encino hit is part of a broader wave of break-ins across the San Fernando Valley that has City Hall on edge. The surge pushed Mayor Karen Bass to order a boost in high-visibility LAPD patrols in the Valley, including mounted units, air support, and mobile license-plate readers, according to the Los Angeles Times. CBS Los Angeles reported that detectives have already identified dozens of suspects, and that specialty units and investigators are being pulled together to zero in on so-called high-value-loss burglaries.
How police say homeowners can cut their odds
LAPD investigators are also pushing some back-to-basics advice for residents. They are urging homeowners to lock doors and windows, install locks on side-yard and alley gates, set up visible cameras, and bolt safes to the floor instead of the wall, according to NBC Los Angeles, which reported from detectives.
Neighbors are being asked to call in suspicious people or vehicles and to hang on to any surveillance video that might show cars, license plates, or possible suspects. Detectives are still canvassing the Encino neighborhood and reviewing footage. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Los Angeles Police Department's West Valley detectives.
