An 8-year-old German shepherd named Samson was pepper-sprayed and locked inside a bathroom while burglars entered his family's Lake Balboa home Friday night and stole purses and jewelry. Homeowner Janistie Medina says her security cameras had been disabled.
A Security Alert, Then a Break-In
According to the NBC Los Angeles report, Medina's security system alerted her that a door had been opened while she was away from the home. When Medina came home, she found that burglars had smashed the kitchen door window to get inside, according to the LAPD. Samson, meanwhile, had been pepper-sprayed and shut inside the bathroom, Medina told the station.
Medina said her security cameras had been disabled, leaving the family without footage of the intruders. The station reports that the burglars stole purses and jewelry before fleeing. Samson is recovering and is said to be okay, though the report does not detail what veterinary treatment, if any, he received.
A Familiar Tactic in Valley Burglaries
Disabling home security systems before entry has become a recurring feature of organized burglary crews across the region. LAPD community alerts cited by the Bel-Air Association warn that theft crews often carry portable Wi-Fi jammers specifically to interrupt wireless signals and disable Ring or Nest cameras before breaking in. That tactic isn't new to the Valley — CBS Los Angeles reported in August 2024 that multiple burglaries occurred across the San Fernando Valley and that a computer-store owner believed a Wi-Fi blocker had been used.
Lake Balboa has seen its share of unsettling home invasions in recent years. In December 2023, suspects impersonating police officers shouted “LAPD” before breaking into a home on the 7300 block of Forbes Avenue and stealing a purse, according to CBS News Los Angeles. Just months ago, in April, the broader discussion also pointed to burglary concerns in nearby Lake Balboa.
Potential Charges Beyond Burglary
The LAPD has not released a description of those involved and is investigating the burglary, per the NBC Los Angeles report. Beyond standard residential burglary allegations, using pepper spray to injure a family pet can carry its own legal consequences. Under California Penal Code § 597, maliciously harming or abusing an animal — including with incapacitating chemical agents such as pepper spray without justification — is a wobbler offense punishable by up to a year in county jail as a misdemeanor or up to three years in state prison as a felony, along with fines up to $20,000, according to Eisner Gorin LLP.
The LAPD alleges that burglars entered Medina's inhabited home with intent to commit theft. The case could bring criminal penalties, depending on the charges and outcome. Veterinary care guidance is not detailed in the available report.
A Neighborhood Already on Alert
Lake Balboa is a Los Angeles neighborhood. The area is patrolled by the LAPD West Valley Community Police Station.
The article also discusses organized theft crews operating in the region. The linked report addresses the broader burglary trend gripping the Valley. For now, the LAPD has not released a suspect description in the Lake Balboa case, and the investigation remains open.
