LAPD Hails Arrests In San Fernando Valley Burglaries

LOS ANGELES, CA—Interim LAPD Chief Dominic Choi attributed a surge of resources deployed to the burglary-plagued San Fernando Valley to a pair of "significant" arrests Tuesday.

The unidentified suspects were arrested on suspicion of burglary and armed robbery. The sophisticated operation involved costumes, outfits and disguises, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

"About a week and a half ago, there were two significant arrests that were made. The investigations will tell you that these two individuals are well known for burglaries," Choi told the city's Board of Police Commissioners.

Choi predicted that the arrests will be felt in he San Fernando Valley immediately.

"The criminal history of the person that we have in custody is significant, and there's prior burglaries and other violent offenses," he added. "We think this is also going to have a significant impact in the burglaries in that area."

Choi also highlighted how offices responded to a theft of sneakers, which resulted in one suspect being apprehended and another one still being searched for.

"You also may have heard that nearby there was also a computer store that was burglarized just before. We have reason to believe —I won't get into too much detail — that the same suspects were involved in that burglary as well," Choi said.

It wasn't clear which sneaker theft he was referring to as there was more than one sneaker store burglarized in the San Fernando Valley.

Last week residents woke up to a trail of cash on Ventura Boulevard after burglars broke into a high-end shoe store and led police on a 100-mph chase.

The burglary occurred at Equvalence shoe store on Ventura Boulevard, known for sneakers, and clothing . Los Angeles Police Department Officers were called to the scene to respond to a report of a burglary at about 3 a.m. at 108007 Ventura Blvd. They found a crew of masked thieves trying to make a getaway, leaving a trail of money and broken glass behind them.

The suspects climbed into three newer model cars — two white Camaros and a grey Corvette, ABC7 reported.

Police pursued the suspects, at times reaching speeds of over 100 mph, before the suspects got away. A police helicopter traced one of the vehicles to the Ventura (101) Freeway, and the California Highway Patrol got involved in the chase but backed off as speeds topped 100 mph.

In the end, the burglars got away, marking the latest in a string of residential and commercial burglaries plaguing the San Fernando Valley.

The San Fernando Valley, and Encino, in particular, has been grappling with a spike in brazen burglaries over the last month. Several businesses reported being hit repeatedly, and one paintball gun-wielding homeowner has gone vigilante to protect his neighborhood.

Last week, the department hosted an online public safety meeting in partnership with City Council members Bob Blumenfield and Nithya Raman, who represent those neighborhoods in the valley. Choi reported some 600 participants joined the meeting.

Choi said the Los Angeles Police Department increased foot patrols in the area.

"We're going to continue our robust effort to reestablish the sense of safety for these communities that understandably are completely feeling unsafe in their homes and their businesses," Choi said. "We can't tolerate that."

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.