As usual, it was car break-ins that accounted for most serious crimes in West Hollywood in the seven days from April 23 to April 29. The weekly crime report by the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station stated a total of $22,000 in losses from eight incidents. The best night for smash-and-grabbers was Tuesday, April 23, when five car thefts amounted to $7,805 in losses.
The list below includes each case number. This report lists Part 1 (serious) crimes for the date range shown and is not meant to be a complete list of all serious
April 23
Residential Burglary. 1000 block Westmount Drive at 2:18 a.m. A man used an unlocked balcony door to gain entry and removed $22 from a hotel room. Loss $22. #02646
Vehicle Burglary. 8400 block Melrose Avenue between 7:30 and 8:45 p.m. An unknown suspect smashed the rear passenger’s side window and removed a backpack containing a necklace and clothing from the back seat. Loss $1,445. #02641
Vehicle Burglary. 8400 block Melrose Avenue between 6:30 and 8 p.m. An unknown suspect smashed the rear passenger’s side window and removed a backpack containing a laptop computer and headphones from the back seat. Loss $2,650. #02642
Vehicle Burglary. 8400 block Melrose Avenue between 7 and 8:30 p.m. An unknown suspect smashed the rear passenger’s side window and removed a leather bag containing a wallet, sunglasses, and $300 cash from rear floorboard. Loss $2,450. #02643
Vehicle Burglary. 9000 block Melrose Avenue between 8 and 9 p.m. An unknown suspect smashed the front passenger’s side window and removed a backpack from the front seat. Loss $1,050. #02644
Vehicle Burglary. 500 block Westmount Drive between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. An unknown suspect smashed removed a duffel bag containing clothing and a briefcase from the interior. No sign of forced entry. Loss $210. #02647
April 24
Grand Theft. 8300 block Santa Monica Boulevard between 8:35 and 8:45 p.m. An unknown suspect removed a briefcase containing a laptop computer from the rear floorboard of the unlocked vehicle. Loss $1,300. #02664
Strong Arm Robbery (Suspect Arrested). 8200 block at 10 p.m. Two men tried to purchase three glass pipes and two torch lighters with a fake credit card. The suspects then grabbed the items and ran from the store. An employee held one of the suspects until deputies arrived. The suspect was arrested. Loss $180. #02663
April 25
Grand Theft. 7100 block Santa Monica Boulevard at 1:20 p.m. A man filled a backpack with cosmetics and left the store without paying. Loss $1,025. #02720
Grand Theft 600 block North Robertson Boulevard between 11:30 p.m. and 10 a.m. An unknown suspect removed a cell phone and credit cards from the victim’s purse while inside the club. Loss $2,000. #02825
Strong Arm Robbery. Palm Avenue / Santa Monica Boulevard at midnight. A man was drinking and woke up the next morning with injuries to his face and his wallet and cell phone missing. The victim could not recall what happened due to his intoxication. Loss $1,170. #02672
Vehicle Burglary. 600 block Robertson Boulevard between 12:30 and 2 a.m. An unknown suspect smashed the rear passenger’s side window and removed $3,000 in cash from the glove box. The suspect also removed two purses and several shopping bags containing clothing, shoes, and jewelry from the back seat. Loss $4,800. #02668
Vehicle Burglary. 8400 block Santa Monica Boulevard between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. An unknown suspect smashed the front passenger’s side window and removed a backpack containing a laptop computer and passport from the back seat. Loss $3,300. #02692
April 26
Residential Burglary (Attempt). 800 block Hammond Street at 8:35 p.m. Two men attempted to pry the front door open but were scared off by the resident. Loss $200. #02709
April 27
Grand Theft. 300 block North Robertson Boulevard between 2 and 3:30 p.m. An unknown suspect removed a suitcase containing clothing, shoes, and an iPad from the back seat of the unlocked vehicle. Loss $4,700. #02744
April 28
Residential Burglary. 9000 block Rangeley Avenue between 12:30 and 4 p.m. An unknown suspect used an unlocked back patio door to gain entry and removed $6,000 in cash from the dining room table. #02752
Armed (Simulated). Gardner Street / Romaine Street at 1 a.m. Two men were walking eastbound on Romaine Street when three men approached them and demanded their property. After a brief scuffle, the suspects ran to a nearby vehicle and fled the area. No loss. #02740
Strong Arm Robbery. 1000 block Harper Avenue
at 8:45 p.m. A woman was sitting outside using her phone when a car pulled into a driveway near her location. Three men exited the vehicle and approached the victim. One of the suspects pulled the victim’s phone from her hand and then all three suspects returned to the vehicle and fled the area. Loss $950. #02760
Armed Robbery. 1200 block Harper Avenue
at 8:50 p.m. A man was walking into the apartment complex when a man approached him while armed with a handgun and demanded his cell phone. The victim complied and the phone was taken and then returned to the victim. No loss. #02761
April 29
Other Burglary. 1100 block Hacienda Place at 3:50 a.m. An unknown suspect manipulated the front door lock to gain entry and removed 20 unsecured mail packages from the lobby. Amount of loss unknown. #02797
Folks need to WAKE UP and realize that THEFT is common and easy when folks leave things that can be stolen in plain sight. This is not rocket science folks! Do not ever leave anything that can be stolen in plain sight, or it is an open invitation to their thieves! They will steal anything and then sell it online or at a swap meet.
It’s crazy that someone would have $6,000 just sitting on the table, and then happen to be robbed that day (can’t be a normal occurrence to have that much cash sitting out). Also, who keeps $3,000 of cash in the glove box of a locked car. Crime is getting out of control here in Weho, but almost feels like some people are living in a world by keeping that much cash sitting around and not locked away in a bank.
After reading about all of these smash-and-grab vehicle burglaries,it might be time for a campaign by the city of West Hollywood to remind visitors and residents alike, to do not leave any kind of personal belongings,bags or otherwise,visible anywhere in a parked car. Signs can be put up in heavy visitor areas and hotels can post notices for guests to take the necessary caution.The sheriff’s department can set up a sting operation in areas where this type of crime is common.Of course, with all the bureaucracy,it would take a while for things to get set.