Car Break-ins Explode in Studio City

Senior Lead Officer for Studio City Mike Lewis told a crowd at the Studio City Recreation Center (Beeman Park) Wednesday night that although it's one of the safest places in all of Los Angeles, the rates of car break-ins have "exploded" in just the past month.

The LAPD North Hollywood officer spoke at a Neighorhood Watch meeting that included City Councilman Paul Kerkorian, an update from Save LA River Open Space and others. (See upcoming stories.)

Lewis explained that Fryman Canyon is the worst area for the break-ins (see the video above) and he detailed three gangs of perpetrators (see second video). 

One group is three white men in a white BMW. There are also a group of three Hispanic men in a red Ford. One man who has also broken into cars on the Westside as well is described as Armenian with a long moustache.

Although crime incidents went down from 118 to 107 from January to February, and no robberies or violent crimes were reported, 59 of those incidents were care break-ins and most were in the Fryman Canyon area.

Lewis attributed the increase in crime to the release of prisoners by the state, and most of the drug abusers need fast cash.

Check back for more details at the meeting on Studio City Patch.