RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES
DISTRACTING ELDERLY VICTIMS
Increase in home burglaries in Pacific Palisades, Westwood, and West L.A.... organized groups
of thieves target vulnerable elderly citizens
using trickery or distraction to gain access
to residences and remove property.
Suspects, a diverse group of males and females,
ages 17 to 50, have been variously described as
Caucasian, Eastern European, Hispanic, Filipino
and "Gypsy."  Suspects are usually very courteous
and convincing.  Sometimes, they have children
with them.  Once the victim(s) is distracted, a secondary
team of burglars enters the residence and steals valuables.
Some common methods of trickery used have been:
Posing as Department of Water & Power employees
who need to inspect the backyard.
Posing as construction workers at a neighboring house
and needs to enter the backyard to inspect the wall.
Asking to go into the backyard to get their lost cat.
Posing as telephone company employees who need
to inspect the telephone pole.
In September and October 2008, some areas where
these incidents occurred were near:
West L.A.'s Missouri Ave & Butler Ave
Westwood's Santa Monica Blvd & Prosser Ave
Westwood's Santa Monica Blvd & Westwood Blvd
Bel Air's Bellagio RD & Casiano Rd
Police are seeking to raise public awareness.
To report suspicious activity or if you have
information about these crimes,
call the 24-hour toll free Detective Information Desk
at 1-877-LAW-FULL (1-877-529-3855)
or the West Los Angeles Area Front Desk
at (310) 444-0701 or 444-0704