West Hollywood saw a major surge in petty theft in November according to figures compiled by the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station. The figures show there were 43 incidents last month compared to 25 in November 2014, an increase of 72%. The station reported 47 petty theft incidents in October, a 27% increase over the 37 in October 2014. Petty theft is defined as theft of something worth $950 or less.
Petty theft incidents were relatively evenly divided among the city’s Westside (14 incidents), Center City (12 incidents) and Eastside (17 incidents). However the Eastside and Center City areas showed the greatest increase in such incidents. Incidents of grand theft, the taking of property worth more than $950, declined 22%, from 36 incidents a year ago to 28 this past November.
Other categories responsible for a major portion of serious crimes included vehicle burglaries (24 in November 2015 vs. 21 in November 2014) and aggravated assault (19 vs. 16).
The city’s Eastside saw the biggest increase in all serious crimes, with 43 last month compared to 26 in November 2014. That increase is likely to prompt Eastside residents to continue their push for more action to address what some see as an increase in homeless or transient people on the streets. Residents have reported seeing homeless people attempting to break into garages and other buildings to find a place to sleep and some believe they are responsible for many of the vehicle burglaries.
There also has been a spate of armed robberies across the city in recent weeks, with several taking place on the Eastside and involving African-American men who steal cellphones.
Acting Capt. Sergio Aloma of the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station has told the City Council that he is stepping up patrols on the Eastside and asking that deputies, who for the most part patrol in cars, drive down residential as well as commercial streets. The Sheriff’s Station also recently added a foot patrol two nights a week.
The crime report will be presented to the city’s Public Safety Commission at its meeting Monday at 5 p.m. at the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station, 780 N. San Vicente Blvd., south of Santa Monica. Parking is available across the street in the five-story parking structure adjacent to West Hollywood Library.
J: The front tire of my bike was stolen as well from a gated/locked garage. We have also had our mailboxes broken into twice. No one from the USPS has bothered to contact me either. Neighborhood watch, we need to form it now and take control. You think we’d have a decent police patrol with the high taxes we pay to live in Weho, but apparently they’re pretty much non-exsistent.
It’s my opinion that the risein crime on the westside can be directly connected with the low lifes that hang around the area of Santa Monica and Highland.
Eastsider here and just had my bicycle tire stolen. This was not their first attempt. I didn’t think to put an extra chain on it because the property is gated, but I guess they really wanted that tire. The way the bike was positioned against the railing, they would have had to yank and yank and yank in order to get that tire out, which is why they failed the first time. But I guess they thought it was worth the trouble because they bided their time and finally got their flat tire prize. This took ambition and determination. It… Read more »
All one has to do is look across La Brea into the City of Los Angeles and observe the low lifes on the street all night long. I rarely use the Chase Bank ATM there for fear of getting robbed.
Everyone should carry Pepper Spray at least. It’s only about five bucks to purchase.