Los Angeles police sound alarm over burglary ring as region sees terrifying home invasions

Police are urging residents of West Los Angeles to remain vigilant as detectives pursue what they believe is an organized burglary ring that is using Wi-Fi jammers and other sophisticated techniques to steal valuables from luxury homes in several upscale neighborhoods.

The warning from Los Angeles police, who sent out alerts to neighborhoods including Bel Air, Holmby Hills and Pacific Palisades, comes after reports that a nanny was held at gunpoint during a home invasion in nearby Sherman Oaks early last week.

“In our area, in the south valley, we have home burglaries and thefts at luxury homes and even regular homes almost every night,” Matt Epstein, president of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association, told Fox News Digital.

“I’ve lived in Sherman Oaks my whole life, 66 years, and what’s happened in the city of Los Angeles over the last 10 years has been absolutely horrible,” he added. “This is something that can be fixed. Our current district attorney is an idiot, he’s not going to prosecute anyone if he keeps letting people go out.”

LAPD INVESTIGATES MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF 19-YEAR-OLD IN KOREATOWN

According to a report from Fox 11, the suspect was carrying a bag full of valuables stolen from a home in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles before getting into a getaway vehicle. (Nov 11)

In the Sherman Oaks incident, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office said the three suspects “allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of luxury handbags and jewelry” after breaking into a home, then “fleeing in a vehicle and driving to the city of Compton,” where they allegedly broke into homes to hide from police.

The three suspects, all between the ages of 21 and 24, were eventually arrested and face bail ranging from $225,000 to $2 million for home invasion and robbery.

“Home invasions are deeply disturbing crimes that impact not only the victims but our entire community,” District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement. “Our homes are meant to be sanctuaries — places where we should feel safe. I want to assure the community that our office is fully committed to holding perpetrators accountable and is working closely with law enforcement to bring justice to victims.”

“We will continue to deploy resources to address residential burglaries in Encino, West Los Angeles and any other neighborhood in Los Angeles that criminals target,” added Interim LAPD Chief Dominic Choi. “While these arrests are a step in the right direction, our work is not done.”

Los Angeles police told West Los Angeles residents that a series of home burglaries in their community appears to be the work of a group of two to four unidentified masked men who often target homes that appear to be unoccupied, the Santa Monica Mirror reported.

‘SOPHISTICATED’ TACTICS OF SERIAL BURGLAR FROM THE NORTH EAST: 4 WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR HOME

According to Fox 11, the target of the attack was a home located in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles. (KTV)

The newspaper, citing a warning sent to residents, said the suspects often use ladders or climb up sewage pipes to gain access to second-floor master bedrooms of homes, then ransack them for valuables including jewellery, watches, expensive handbags and cash.

The suspects reportedly carry Wi-Fi jammers to disrupt home surveillance cameras and use short-range portable radios to communicate with vehicles that pick them up from crime scenes.

According to the Santa Monica Mirror, residents are now being asked to report any suspicious behavior, as police recommend installing sliding glass doors with alarms and bolting them down, as well as equipping safes with GPS tracking devices.

CALIFORNIA GARDENER FOUND 4 NAVY BLUE RUSSIAN GRONOUSES IN BUSHES NEAR LOS ANGELES

A law enforcement official is shedding light on Compton police who arrest three suspects in connection with a home invasion in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Nov 11)

Bill Daly, a former FBI investigator, told Fox News Digital that landlords should also take steps like leaving lights and televisions on and opening curtains slightly “to give the impression that the household is occupied and active,” even if they are not there.

“If you have an extra vehicle, make sure it’s visible, don’t leave it in the garage, leave it outside so people can see that someone may be in or near the house,” he added.

LAPD officers working the West Los Angeles home invasion case did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Last week, Los Angeles police arrested one suspect after an attempted break-in at a home in the Cheviot Hills neighborhood of West Los Angeles. The person, identified as 43-year-old Jose Agarde Lopez, who has 11 previous arrests for burglary, entered the home using a key that was in a key box for construction workers, KABC reported, citing authorities.

The break-ins also came after burglars struck at more than a dozen adjacent businesses in Los Angeles’ fashion district two weekends ago, breaking into one business and then punching holes in the walls to get into the others, the report added.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said in a public statement that it has launched a “new hotline specifically for home burglaries” where “community members who have information about home burglaries are encouraged to share their tips and information.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“This hotline will be a key tool in gathering information, assisting in investigations and preventing future crimes,” the office said. “Information gathered will be forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for investigation and follow-up.”