Armed Robbers Hit Pacific Palisades Residence During Party

By MAGNOLIA LAFLEUR | Reporter

A gathering of friends were robbed during a private holiday party the evening of Friday, December 3, when a home invasion took place in the Upper Alphabet Streets area, according to the homeowner.

About 60 guests were in attendance when two party goers who were outside stepped back in to leave the party and were confronted by two armed, male assailants who took their wallets, jewelry, iPhones and an Apple watch, the homeowner, who wished to remain anonymous, said. From the home itself, a Bloomingdale’s bag was stolen, along with an LA Lakers 2020 championship ring replica paperweight.

The two women stepped into the guest room to grab their bags and leave, and were held up in the room with the lights off. one of the women reported. They were then separated into two different rooms, she continued, with one of the victims being held in the family room while the other remained in the guest room.

One of the women explained to the Palisadian-Post they had a difficult time recalling the assailants’ facial descriptions, as they kept their heads down to remain in compliance in order to not escalate the situation.

While one of the women who was held up shared that she feels “incredibly fortunate” that she and her friend are unscathed and alive, she said she feels change needs to happen.

“Between Jacqueline Avant and all the smash and grabs, what is this no bail or low bail garbage?” she said to the Post. “There are no repercussions, no deterrents. That’s what I’m angry about.”

According to the owner of the home, a fellow Palisadian had spotted the two men, who were captured in a surveillance video that has since been circulating the community, about 30 minutes before the break-in, walking past Porta Via in Palisades Village.

Soon after, the security cameras on the property recorded the two criminals, first driving around the vicinity and then on foot, walking on the side of the home, while a second camera caught the two men entering the gate through the walkway.

In the video, the two men are captured wearing black hooded sweatshirts; one was wearing red pants and the other in a camouflage pattern. Both were wearing face masks. According to the women, both assailants were African American and brandishing a gun in their hand, which they kept pointed down by their waists during the incident.

Because the event was catered, there were two gates the caterers were using to come back and forth from the outside of their trucks to the inside of the home. It was reported to the homeowner by one of the caterers that they recalled seeing two men run out of the home and jump into a gray car with a broken tail light.

After the suspects abruptly left the home, the police were immediately called and responded at  7:40 p.m.—15 minutes after the incident ensued. A police report was taken.

Some residents in the Palisades shared concerns that they are left on edge due to the increase of crime in the area and surrounding affluent communities in Los Angeles, with robberies up 3.2% in Los Angeles County this year compared to 2020.

One of the women involved in the incident feels that the Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon holds a weighted amount of responsibility for the uptick in crime. He is currently facing a recall.

“It’s clear there’s an imbalance between the police resources, rise of crime as well as the downsizing of criminal consequences,” the owner of the home said to the Post. “Especially on the Westside of Los Angeles where they think it may not be a problem, but it is, and it needs to be addressed.”

Investigations by the LAPD are still reportedly underway.