Rising crime rates hit home this weekend with an armed robbery on Larchmont Blvd. and a shooting between speeding cars in Hancock Park.
This morning a Buzz reader contacted us about an armed robbery that took place on Sunday afternoon in the 400 Block of North Larchmont.
According to Detective M. Flores of LAPD Wilshire Division, the two male victims were walking south on Larchmont Blvd. when a vehicle stopped, two men got out of the dark colored SUV, held the two victims up with a gun, then drove away heading east on Beverly Blvd.
On Saturday, there was also a shooting between two speeding cars on Cahuenga Blvd. in the Hancock Park cul de sac between the Los Angeles Tennis Club and the Wilshire Country Club. According to Terry Segraves, Executive Senior VP of SSA Security, the incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. SSA responded to calls from security staff at the tennis club, which reported the incident and called for assistance.
“At about 5:30 pm on Saturday, April 2, a white convertible Camaro raced Southbound on Cahuenga. The passenger of the Camaro, who was described as a Hispanic male in his 20s, hanging out the passenger window, allegedly fired about 6 rounds at or in the direction of a dark car following them,” Segraves told the Buzz.
According to Segraves, LATC security officer Ruben Gonzalez, a former LAPD officer, heard the shots but did not witness the incident. An SSA officer spoke to nearby residents but no one saw the incident. LAPD officers responded and found no evidence either.
“At this juncture, and until other information is developed, this appears to be a random event,” said Segraves, adding, “we are having the car in the area and the third SSA crime suppression car do a ton of extra patrol in and around the area.”
Meanwhile, a week earlier, a car with four individuals appeared to be casing the LATC parking lot, apparently looking for unlocked vehicles or items of value.
Property theft and vehicle crime have become more commonplace recently, according to Hancock Park HOA President Cindy Chvatal-Keane. Residents have reported more incidents of vehicle break-ins and even tires being stolen in the middle of the night, with residents finding their cars left on blocks the next morning.
“We all have to be vigilant, take precautions and constantly be aware of our surroundings,” said Chvatal-Keane. “And we have to even more aware these days. We are fortunate to have several SSA patrols in the neighborhood at all times.”
To reduce vehicle thefts, LAPD developed “Hide it, Lock it, Keep it,” a public awareness campaign to educate the community and reduce the incidence of these crimes. LAPD urges residents to follow the safety tips below and report any suspicious persons or suspicious activity to the police immediately.
- Secure your vehicle.
- Lock all your doors and ensure your windows are rolled up.
- Park in an attended parking lot.
- If you have a garage, take the time to use the garage resident parking, rather than parking outside where your vehicle is more vulnerable. Lock the garage.
- If your vehicle is so equipped, use the alarm and ignition kill switch.
- Install a mechanical device that locks the steering wheel, column, or brakes.
- Remove all visible items from the passenger compartment.
- Remove from view any mounts and chargers for electronic items.
- Take a personal items including cell phone, purse, and laptop with you, or store in the trunk before you park.
- Be aware of individuals attempting to follow you into a garage when the gate opens.
Important LAPD phone numbers:
- Emergency: 911
- Non-Emergency: (877) ASK-LAPD or (877) 275-5273
- Olympic Station: (213) 382-9102
- Senior Lead Officer: ( 213) 382-9140
- Anonymous Tip Line: (800) 222-TIPS (8477)
- or Text TIPLA plus your time to 274637 (CRIMES)
