What started as a late-night burglary call turned into a full-scale operation early Tuesday, as police locked down a Westlake self-storage site, set up a perimeter and brought in K9 units to search for multiple suspects.
Officers said several people were believed to be involved, though it was not immediately clear whether any of them were in custody. The scene stayed active while officers and detectives coordinated the search inside the sprawling facility.
Scene and initial reports
Officers were dispatched to Los Angeles Self Storage at 1:37 a.m. in the 1000 block of Sixth Street, near South Beaudry Avenue, according to MyNewsLA. An LAPD spokesperson confirmed a burglary and told the outlet that four suspects were at the scene, but it remained unclear whether they had been detained or were still holed up somewhere in the building. K9 units were assisting officers in clearing the property, the report said.
Earlier break-in at the same site
This was not the facility’s first run-in with burglars. In mid-April, Rampart Burglary Detectives said suspects "used a vehicle to ram the gate" of the same business and then went in to steal from multiple units, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The department said the group came back two days later and, in a May 7 release, urged anyone with information about the crew to contact investigators.
NBC Los Angeles also aired video that showed a Jeep with a distinctive red stripe, which investigators are trying to identify in connection with the earlier break-in.
What officials are asking
Investigators have again turned to the public for help. They asked anyone with tips to call Rampart Burglary Detectives or the regional tip line, according to the LAPD. City leaders have recently spotlighted a broader crackdown on organized burglary crews, with Mayor Karen Bass’ office noting more than 100 burglary-related arrests in recent weeks.
If you have information that could help investigators, authorities directed callers to reach Rampart Burglary Detectives at (213) 484-3490 or the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-800-222-TIPS.
Legal status
MyNewsLA reported that police had previously said two suspects were arrested in connection with activity at the storage site. In its Tuesday update, however, officers on scene told the outlet there were four suspects tied to the latest call and that they could not confirm who, if anyone, was currently in custody.
No formal charges had been announced in the initial reports, and detectives continued processing the scene and canvassing the area for witnesses.
