Encino residents are living in fear after a recent spike in robberies.
The normally affluent neighborhood of this San Fernando Valley neighborhood has seen a 40% increase in residential burglaries compared to the previous month, far exceeding the citywide average.
This increase has led residents to take drastic measures, including hiring armed guards, purchasing firearms and forming neighborhood watch groups.
The local police department has increased patrols and assigned additional investigators to the case, but residents are feeling overwhelmed by the situation.
With at least 10 robberies reported in just one month, residents believe the real number is higher.
Encino residents live in fear after recent spike in robberies
The normally affluent neighborhood of this San Fernando Valley neighborhood has seen a 40% increase in residential burglaries compared to the previous month, far exceeding the citywide average.
The dramatic increase, which far exceeds the city average, has sparked a sense of panic.
Some have even resorted to hiring armed guards or purchasing firearms to protect themselves.
“In all my years of working and living in Encino, I’ve never been in a conversation where people said, ‘Yeah, I’m going to buy a gun. ‘ But now they are,” Encino Homeowners Association President Robert Glushon told the LA Times.
Encino has been disproportionately targeted by burglars compared to the rest of Los Angeles.
While residential burglaries citywide rose 4% year-over-year, the Encino area south of the 101 Freeway saw a staggering 40% increase between June and July.
Capt. Brian Wendling of the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Valley Division dismissed the idea of a crime wave in Encino.
While he acknowledged a recent increase in robberies in one specific area, he stressed that overall crime rates in the West Valley have actually decreased by 19% compared to the previous year.
“I can’t stress enough that people tend to overreact to spikes and dips in crime all the time,” Wendling said. “There was a spike in a very small area that West Valley responded to very quickly.”
Wendling said the media’s focus on rising crime in Encino is making it look like police aren’t acting quickly enough.
Five suspects are on the run after robbing a sneaker store in Encino early Wednesday morning, prompting a high-speed police chase (pictured: Encino Police at the crime scene)
“We take it very seriously,” he said. “We need the help of the media to lower the temperature, so to speak. We try to reduce the incidence of crime and, secondly, we try to reduce the fear of crime. That’s what’s really been exaggerated.”
But the frequency and brazenness of the thefts have created a climate of anxiety. People are taking matters into their own hands, from forming neighbourhood watch groups to confronting strangers on the street.
Five suspects are on the loose after robbing an Encino shoe store early Wednesday morning. The robbery is the latest in a series of robberies plaguing the neighborhood, according to the local ABC affiliate. KABC.
On Monday, an Encino homeowner was awakened by the sound of breaking glass. When police arrived at the Firmament Avenue residence, the intruders had already fled.
Another home was targeted just hours later less than three miles away, with residents reporting two suspects inside their Mooncrest Drive home. The terrified homeowners barricaded themselves in a bedroom after several intruders broke down their back door, they said. NBC4 News.
“Deeply alarmed” by rising crime, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman has vowed to take action. On Thursday, she met with local officials and police to address the rise in crime.
In response, the Los Angeles Police Department has increased patrols and sent additional investigators to the area. The department is also enlisting the help of volunteer reserves to combat the rise in robberies.
Despite the increased police presence, fear persists. As residents grapple with the rising crime wave, the community is divided on how to respond. Some believe the answer is more guns, while others advocate for more community involvement and police support.
Resident Stephanie Rosenthal has become hypervigilant, taking photos of unfamiliar cars and confronting strangers.
The local police department has increased patrols and assigned additional investigators to the case, but residents are feeling overwhelmed by the situation.
“We have to be present and not let anyone wander around the neighborhood,” he said. “We have to be willing to question anyone… if they are willing to take risks, we will take risks.”
While urging residents to be cautious, Captain Wendling cautioned against jumping to conclusions. He stressed that suspects are often outsiders operating over a wide geographic area.
“It doesn’t matter where you live,” Wendling said. “It’s not just endemic to Los Angeles or California. It’s endemic from coast to coast.”