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 NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME UPDATES

                    MAIL THEFT! - This email from a neighbor:

Dear Neighbors,

On Saturday evening April 17th, our mail was stolen from our mailbox.  It has been determined through investigation that the criminals took the mail to a nearby Motel 6, where they placed phone calls attempting to defraud the owners of the mail by using credit cards and statements and checks.  The found mail contained some of our Beachwood canyon neighbors’ mail. If you suspect that you may have had mail in your box at this time and never received it, you can call the investigator in charge of this case:

Suzan M. Felando
213-830-2521
 
In the meantime, you may want to consider purchasing a locking mailbox, because she mentioned that this is a prevalent crime in our area.
 
Best,
Your neighbors on Rutherford

Please spread the word amongst your neighbors!

January 1, 2004 - Happy New Year!

Unfortunately, we still have criminal predators targeting the area around the Franklin Strip Bars... The most recent crime report listed armed robberies on Bronson and Canyon off Franklin in the wee hours of the morning (right after midnight).

In addition, on December 21st between 12:30 a.m. and 1:00 a.m., at 1900 Tamarind (just north of Franklin and around the corner from the Franklin Bars), two people were approached by three thugs -- one was a male African American about 6'1", 280-300 pounds, 25-30 years old, who pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at one of the two people walking on Tamarind and said "Empty your pockets, gimme your money!" The three crooks grabbed the loot from both people and fled.

Many such incidents go unreported.  The predators are looking for people who are having a nice time at the bars, paying no attention to their surroundings because they're unaware of danger lurking in the neighborhood; they're enjoying themselves and talking as they stroll to their cars, and some have to walk a great distance on busy evenings when parking spaces are hard to find, giving the bad guy plenty of time to watch, assess, and prey on innocent people. 

The restaurants aren't warning patrons to be careful while walking back to their cars, because they don't want anything to interfere with business as usual -- so it's up to all of us to watch out for ourselves and to caution our friends.

If anyone has ideas about how to inform neighborhood bar and restaurant patrons of possible dangers, especially late at night, please let us know -- call 323-462-1514 or email CanyonVox@aol.com.  We're going to urge the bars and restaurants to be more neighborhood-friendly and to caution their clientele to be careful when going back to their cars or walking home.  Then patrons would be observant around themselves and walk briskly to their cars, and they'd be safer.   Knowledge is power!

So, be aware and have a wonderful 2004!

ALERT!   HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN?

Recently, a girl living on Beachwood went to Franklin, to Mayfair and then to Birds.   At around 11pm she walked from Birds toward her home up Beachwood alone.  A guy followed her. S he sped up and so did he.  He then threatened to shoot her and dragged her into 1962 Beachwood, which is an apartment building that is under renovation.   He appears to know the area. The Police are looking for this man.  He is a Male Latino 5'5"/5"6" tall, medium to thin build in his mid 20's with medium complexion. He was wearing a gray knit cap with a large fold, dark baggy clothing, and has a strong Hispanic accent and is soft spoken.

The rendering above is of the suspect.  If you see someone matching this description, call 911.

Our Neighborhood's Police contact is Senior Lead Officer, Bill Sollie, 213-509-7674, email:  21444@lapd.lacity.org

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11-14-03:  Crime Report - 6A15

Period of Time: October 8, 2003 - Nov. 3, 2003

Boundaries:  101 freeway/Western/Forest Lawn Drive/Franklin Ave.
Senior Lead Officer: Bill Sollie  213-509-7674  e-mail: 21444@lapd.lacity.org

Three Aggravated Assaults, (two in the vicinity of Beachwood Drive).

Burglary theft from motor vehicles are leveling off at 26 incidents in this period. (less than one month!)

There were 18 residential burglaries in the area, most near or just above Franklin and a few in the Hollywoodland and Knolls neighborhoods with isolated incidents in Lake Hollywoodland and the Dell area.

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11-05-03: Notification from a Canyon neighbor:

"Today, November 5,  @ about 3:00 p.m., a Caucasian male between 20 and 30 with blond hair came to the door.  I told my daughter not to open it if we didn't know the person, but she was already there and opened it.  He asked her for a match for his mother-in-law's barbeque, with whom he said he was staying.  I know my block pretty well, and I just yelled "No" to my daughter and he went away. After he left, I realized he resembled the man who years ago had come to my door with a bloody arm, saying he was staying up the street and needed to get to the hospital and had locked himself out of the house.  I offered to drive him that day, but he refused, and I ended up (against my better judgment) giving him $20.   Later I realized it was a scam.  This person is very sweet and common looking.   I know he really didn't need a match.
Ann on Westshire"

NEIGHBORS, PLEASE BE AWARE AND SAFETY-CONSCIOUS AT ALL TIMES, IT'S BEST TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION!

Report even the smallest crime to the Police Department, 213-485-4301 or their non-emergency number 1-877-275-5273 (ASK-LAPD) or at least share the information with Senior Lead Officer Bill Sollie, whose number is 213-509-7674.

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10-23-03: Break-ins have increased in our Canyon neighborhood!   Some burglars have entered homes through doors/windows that were left unlocked.   Some have slashed/pried windows and doors open. Most of the break-ins are happening in broad daylight between 7:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.  The perpetrators are arriving via bicycles, taxi cabs, stolen cars and on foot.  This information comes from a recent report by Senior Lead Officer Bill Sollie who suggests we form more neighborhood watch groups and keep our doors and windows locked while away from the apartment or home.

Theft from motor vehicles is still the number one crime in the Canyon.  Don't leave belongings in the car even for a minute. 

We've had a relatively safe summer.  Please stay in touch with one another and remain vigilant.  Attend your local neighborhood association meeting for periodic crime reports or attend neighborhood watch meetings.  To be connected with a neighborhood watch near you (or for info on how to form one), please call 323-462-1514.

If you have crime information, please write to the Canyon-Wide Neighborhood Watch, CanyonVox@aol.com.  We will keep the reports coming and post them on our website.

Fran Reichenbach, Community Organizer

BURGLARY!

9-9-03: Email from one of our neighbors: "Yesterday (Sept. 8, 2003), we had a break-in at our house (on Beachwood Drive)  between 4:30 pm when I went out, and 6:00 pm when our godson came in and found the front door wide open. It appears that the perpetrator(s) gained entrance by climbing up to the second floor and going through a door on the deck.  My wife's Macintosh iBook computer and Canon Powershot 100 digital camera were stolen.

Shortly before the break-in, a black man came by claiming to have aids and be bleeding from the rear. This same man had come by with the same story a year or so ago. Of course, we don't know if this person had anything to do with the break-in, but we suspect that he did. It seems like someone was watching the house waiting for us to leave."

NEIGHBORS, BE ON THE ALERT FOR THIS CON-MAN THIEF!

Ruse Revisited

The above story is identical to one we heard over a year ago: a woman who lives on Beachwood was in her carport (on Gower) when she was approached by a same-description black man.  He told her he lived nearby on Gower, that he had Aids, had fallen in his bathtub and hurt himself and needed a ride to the emergency room at the hospital.  She drove the man to the hospital, gave him $60 to buy his medicine and told him she would wait and drive him back to his home.  He of course didn't come out and when she called the emergency room to inquire, was told that he'd never been in there at all.

A few days later, this same-described man approached a person on Glen Holly with the same story.

This con man is probably one and the same crook responsible for the September 8th burglary.  Captain Mike Downing has been alerted and will be on the case with the senior lead officer, Bill Sollie. 

If anyone has further information, please contact Officer Bill Sollie at 213 509-7674.  We will publish news on this story as soon as it is received.

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                    Car Burglary Thwarted!

                    Email from Beachwood Canyon Neighbor:

"Early Tuesday (8/26/03 at 5:00 a.m.) a white man with shoulder-length, stringy, blondish hair was rifling through a vehicle on mid-Canyon Drive.  The homeowner surprised the car burglar, who took off on his bicycle towards the Griffith Park entrance, then turned around and raced by in the opposite direction, towards Franklin.  The homeowner called 911 and two officers responded within 10 minutes to take a report."

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8-24-03 - Sunday - HIT & RUN

5:00 a.m.:  On Hollyridge just north of Canyon there was a hit and run - someone hit a parked black car, swerved across the street on Hollyridge and smashed into another car.  The driver, obviously very drunk, sped away. The most damage was done to the black car so the perp's car probably has lots of black paint on it and is probably very smashed up.  Be on the look-out and please report to the Canyon Vox if you see a vehicle matching this description.

ROMANCING THE STREETS
Prostitution in Our Neighborhood?

August 16, 2003 - Email from "K", Beachwood Canyon Neighborhood Watch:

Hello Neighbors,

12:30 noon today, in front of my house, was a silver Buick Century, Lic. (deleted).  Inside a girl and guy were engaging in sexual activity.  I reported the matter to Vice and then left a message with Officer Sollie.

Thank you,

"K" (Name Withheld)
Neighborhood Watch                 

       Beachwood Canyon Burglaries Continuing!

A Car break-in & burglary and the theft of a bicycle from a home balcony occurred 7-26-03 on Glen Green, so our Crime Spree has not ended after all.  The Police will be releasing a report on the latest neighborhood crimes that will be published here as received.

Please remember to lock your cars and be aware of safety measures at all times.   Even if on a balcony, bicycles and anything else you don't want stolen should be secured.

                    CARJACKING/MURDER SUSPECTS APPREHENDED

7-1-03 - The suspects accused of last month's carjacking/murder in Hollywood were apprehended in New York City. Thank God those guys are off the street!

                    MIDDLE-OF-NIGHT ROBBERS FOILED by VIGILANT NEIGHBOR

July 1, 2003: Email from an on-the-ball Beachwood Canyon resident states:

"Just did my first neighborhood watch duty!  At around 3:30 a.m. I called the police after I heard glass breaking and then a car drive away up Beachwood with its lights out.  Went outside with another neighbor and found that a window at (1900 block) N. Beachwood had been broken - the previous
several minutes before the glass breaking, I heard a scratching noise like someone unrolling tape or cutting a screen - I spoke "Hello?" out the window - thinking I was being paranoid - but lo and behold I was right. 

The burglars/robbers were not smart - they tried driving away up beachwood, only to get to the dead end and I recognized the car as it came back down the street, and the idiots actually slowed down and then pulled over for a second - obviously freaked out that there were several people out in the street looking at their car and memorizing their license plate.    I made a note of the plate number and a description of the driver - female wearing a black ski hat.  Unfortunately I did not see the passenger.

I also heard that a woman was beaten up and robbed in that same building just 3 days ago by a black man wearing a mask, who had a tattoo on his hand ."

Again, the numbers to call are 213 485-4328 (Hollywood Watch Commander), and 213 485-4310 for Officer Bill Sollie.

Robbery at Gunpoint

Friday June 20th, at just past midnight, patrons from one of our neighborhood restaurants were walking toward their car on Bronson when a dark SUV pulled up with several Hispanic men inside. They had guns, and robbed all four people.

Hollywood Senior Lead Officer Sollie believes the mugging, unusual in this neighborhood, occurred as a fluke due to the criminals being unable to operate in their habitual territory because there are so many cops now patrolling the crime-ridden west side.  However, fluke or not, Officer Sollie cautions that the areas around the restaurants are a "Target Rich Environment". 

The Police are on alert, and we must all be more aware and circumspect and keep our eyes and ears open. 

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                Home Invasion Robber Arrested                    

June 9, 2003 - 3:00 p.m.

During April and May there were three home invasion robberies and four driveway robberies north of Franklin, between Canyon and Wilton.  These robberies are believed to have been committed by the same suspect.  At the same time two suspects working together were committing other street robberies in the area.  These two suspects have not hit in the area since April 22, 2003.

A suspect was arrested on May 25, 2003, after he was identified as following a victim to her residence in the Beachwood Canyon area.  Photographic line-ups were shown and he was tentatively identified by all those shown the line-ups.  However, after a live line-up was conducted it was concluded that given the current state of the evidence, it was insufficient to continue to hold this person in custody.  On June 4, 2003, this person was released on his own recognizance.  The investigation is on going and this person remains to be a focus of detectives. 

We have officers working north of Franklin in uniform and plain clothes.  Our strategies remain confidential so not to jeopardize police operations.  We are asking all residents to carry cell telephones and to call the Hollywood Police Station, Watch Commander's Office, (213) 485-4328, so immediate response can be obtained if a crime is seen.  Senior Lead Officer Bill Sollie is your liaison person.  He can be reached at (213) 485-4310.

Apparently, some residents have received telephone calls from a person representing himself as an attorney for the suspect arrested on May 25.  No resident or victim of a crime is required to speak to any defense or private attorney. 

The suspect who has committed the home invasions and driveway robberies has been armed with a knife and a gun.  He is described as a male Black, 5'6"/5'9", 150/160, 28/32, ¼" scar left cheek bone, shaved head, clean shaven and some pock marks on his face.  There is a rumor that this suspect has committed a rape, this is not true.

Updates will be published when credible information is received.

This update will be published at BeachwoodCanyon.org

Fran Reichenbach, President of Beachwood Canyon Neighborhood Assoc.
323-462-1514

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June 2, 2002

The non-emergency number for the LAPD was ringing off the hook yesterday as several sightings of possible suspects were called in by vigilant Beachwood neighbors. Two such sightings are listed below.

The NON-emergency number going straight to dispatch is 1-877-275-5273 (ASK-LAPD).   Please keep this number with you when you leave the house - program it into your cell phone - Police are waiting to hear what you see in Beachwood.

Spotted: Yesterday (Sunday June 1): Two very buff African American males were spotted on Hollyridge near Lambert at 5PM yesterday. They were behaving in an intimidating manner and the call was made to 911 due to the fear element that these two created. They were driving a blue metallic car with a lot of damage evident. They were around their mid 20's to 30's. Police were dispatched as well as helicopter surveillance which remained in our canyon for hours afterwards. Stay tuned for an update on whether or not the Police were able to apprehend and investigate these two.

Apprehended: An individual matching the updated description of the robbery suspect (picture posted in the Beachwood Village and at Victor's Restaurant) walking along Los Feliz in the direction of Franklin, carrying his white t-shirt -- this man got visibly nervous when he realized that a neighbor on a cell phone was watching him from her car. The dispatch was called and the suspect was apprehended. We are not sure this man is THE suspect but will give you an update when the Police release the details.

Thanks for being aware and making the calls to the police.

Fran Reichenbach
323-462-1514

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May 6, 2003

Hello, to all:

A neighbor just called us to let us know that she, at 11:30 a.m. today, saw a man near Franklin and Bronson who fits the description of one of the suspects of the recent robberies in our neighborhood:

The man, a black male in his early thirties, medium built, was wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt, blue pants (with white stripes on the sides of his pants) and was carrying a black cloth bag. He is shaven and appears to have a scar on his cheek. He seems to try to hide his face with the hood of his sweatshirt.

The man was heading north on Bronson at the time he was seen. The police have been notified.

Please help and be on the look-out.

Alexander von Wechmar
Conny Malter
Oaks Homeowners Association
Phone (323) 467 66 64
Fax (323) 462 1520

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If you are interested in developing a neighborhood watch on your block or in your building, please let us know so we can support you!  Please call 323-462-1514 or email CanyonVox@aol.com. 

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