Residents of L.A.’s San Fernando Valley are fed up with a rise in residential break-ins, and so is Mayor Karen Bass, but burglars continue to strike.
Bass announced Friday that she has directed the Los Angeles Police Department to deploy more resources and conduct more patrols along Ventura Boulevard following the string of break-ins. In a statement, the mayor’s said that public safety is her “number one priority.”
“The safety of every Angeleno is my number one priority. The city has zero tolerance for these recent burglaries,” Mayor Bass’ said. “I’ve directed the LAPD to strategically deploy resources along Ventura Boulevard and to continue making this area a priority by holding these criminals accountable. Residents deserve to feel safe in their communities, especially in their homes, and we will continue to deploy the resources necessary to keep people safe.”
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Several strategies will be implemented to “reduce residential burglaries along Ventura Boulevard,” the mayor’s office says:
- Extra patrols by LAPD patrol officers, detectives and Specialized Units
- Deployment of LAPD vehicles in high visibility locations
- Utilization of mobile License Plate Readers baround high-risk burglary areas
- Active community engagement by Senior Lead Officers
- Weekly burglary meetings with area detectives to discuss trends and develop further response methods
- Air support to provide high-visibility patrol and deterrence
- Close collaboration with other specialized divisions, including the Commercial Crimes Division and Robbery Homicide Division, to investigate high-value loss burglaries
The mayor’s office also added that LAPD Metropolitan Division officers are “actively investigating and arresting burglary crews.”
The uptick in home break-ins has Valley residents frustrated and on edge. The most recent one took place Friday night; a police department spokesperson confirmed to KTLA that a hot prowl burglary — meaning the residents were present — was reported in the 11900 block of Doral Avenue in Porter Ranch at 8:10 p.m…