Crime & Safety

Updated: LAPD Urges Residents to Look Out for 'Distraction Burglaries'

According to officials, one distraction burglary occurred in Atwater Village over the weekend.

Officials from the Los Angeles Police Department's Northeast Division are urging residents to be on the lookout for "distraction burglaries."

According to an alert email sent out by LAPD Northeast, distraction burglaries occur when one suspect will disguise himself as a service provider and distract the homeowner, while another will loot the home.

Officers reported that such an incident took place on Saturday, Feb. 11, at about noon on the 3500 block of Ferncroft Road in Atwater Village.

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From LAPD's email:

Suspect knocked on the front door and spoke to victim. Suspect wanted to enter the rear yard and complete electrical work. Victim did an amazing job of locking the front door behind him and met suspect in the backyard. Suspect distracted victim for about 5 minutes and then walked to the front of the house and met with suspect #2. Both suspects walked away and victim re-entered his home. Once inside victim saw his drawers and closets opened with property missing. Victim immediately notified the police.

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To prevent distraction burglaries, LAPD officials advised residents to "not to allow anyone on your property that you did not invite. Report any unusual activity immediately to the police."

Update:

A Mount Washington resident sent us this e-mail in response to LAPD's alert.

Hello, I just read this piece and found it interesting becasue I was home yesterday afternoon and a heavy-set male walked up my walkway and said he was represeinting a contractor. He noticed some stucco that had fallen from the base of the front of our house and asked if it was the same all around to the back of the house. I told him that I was a renter and that he would have to contact the owner. He declined and walked away. I thought it suspicious because we rarely get solicitors "up in the hills" and frankly I'm not sure if these are the same guys but, just wanted to share.

Have you had any suspicious solicitors coming to your front door, lately?


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