LAPD West LA to Host Burglary Town Hall

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Following an increase of burglaries in Pacific Palisades and the surrounding area, the LAPD West Los Angeles Community Police Station will be hosting a virtual Burglary Town Hall on the evening of Thursday, December 21, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

“I met with our burglary detectives, and we decided it would be best to have a quick town hall meeting to discuss the recent increase in burglaries we have experienced here on the Westside,” LAPD Senior Lead Officer for Pacific Palisades Brian Espin wrote ahead of the meeting.

During the meeting, West LA burglary detectives plan to “touch on and pass along some burglary prevention tips.”

“This meeting is being set up earlier than later to address the concerns prior to the upcoming holiday where most people might be out of town or away from their residence attending holiday gatherings,” Espin explained.

In an update sent Sunday, December 17, Espin reported that the Palisades has continued to be “getting hit hard with vehicle crimes and residential burglaries,” citing a 14% increase (10 more than 2022 year-to-date data) in burglaries as well as a 4% increase in vehicle crimes.

“These residential burglaries are happening throughout the day and early evening hours,” Espin reported. “The burglars are figuring out ways to climb or scale to the second-story balconies and breaking the windows to get into the house.”

In some instances, burglary suspects are accessing properties from the side or back yard from the brush or hillsides, Espin wrote.

“If you live on a street that has access to the brush hillsides, please keep your eyes open for suspicious vehicles that are parked there,” Espin wrote. “Unless you see a crime, there is no need to call the police, but definitely either document by writing down or if you have a security camera facing the street, see if you are able to capture a picture or video of the suspected vehicle. This could be used at a later time for detectives to follow up on if they believe the street is being used by the burglary suspects.”

Those who wish to attend the December 21 Zoom meeting can do so via lapd.zoom.us/j/2087969708?omn=85381829805 or with meeting ID 208 796 9708.