Thieves hit a North Hollywood house on Sunday evening and made off with more than $200,000 in art and antiques, slipping into an empty home that was still under construction after a fire and slipping back out before anyone could stop them.
The property was unoccupied at the time of the break-in, and no arrests have been made, investigators say. After the burglary, officers found evidence that someone had been living out of the garage.
According to NBC Los Angeles, West Valley officers responded around 7 p.m. to the burglary on Westpark Drive near Riverside Drive, just off the 170 Freeway. The homeowner, who was not at the property, reported that more than $200,000 in artwork and antiques were missing. Detectives are canvassing neighbors and pulling any security video they can find.
Part of a Wider Valley Burglary Wave
This latest hit is not happening in a vacuum. It comes amid a run of high-value residential break-ins across the San Fernando Valley that has city leaders on edge and residents double-checking their locks.
As the Los Angeles Times reported, Mayor Karen Bass has directed the LAPD to boost visible patrols and put specialized units on the trail of crews targeting pricey homes and valuables.
Clues at the Scene
Investigators say a garage window had been smashed and that bedding and other belongings inside suggested someone had been staying there, according to NBC Los Angeles. Police have not released any suspect description, and no arrests have been reported.
How Detectives Are Approaching the Case
Detectives are treating the North Hollywood burglary like other recent high-value losses the department has been tracking. That means leaning on surveillance footage, license plate reader data and coordinated work between units to try to pin down suspects.
CBS Los Angeles noted that the North Hollywood Division had investigated more than 150 burglaries earlier in April, a snapshot of the scale of the problem officers are trying to untangle.
What Residents Can Do
The LAPD is still pushing the basics for homeowners, especially in neighborhoods seeing repeat hits. The department recommends steps such as locking garages, anchoring safes, installing cameras and sharing footage with detectives. Crime prevention resources from the department include checklists and brochures aimed at making homes less tempting targets.
For anonymous tips, the Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers hotline is 800-222-TIPS, and tips can also be submitted online, LA Regional Crime Stoppers says.
