Los Angeles police are investigating two separate home burglaries in which alarms or witnesses disrupted thieves, including a Studio City attack using bear spray.
A would-be burglary in Los Angeles escalated from a possible break-in to a violent confrontation after a neighbor tried to document the suspects.
On Sunday night. shortly after 10:45 p.m.. LAPD officers responded to a reported break-in in the 8200 block of Oakwood Avenue. according to Los Angeles Police Officer Rosario Cervantes.. Residents were at home when two men entered the property. and a home alarm sounded. prompting the burglars to flee before police arrived.
Police said no items were taken during that incident. The case is now under investigation, with officers working to determine what triggered the entry and how the suspects were able to get in and out quickly.
Earlier, on Friday around noon, another home burglary was reported in the 4200 block of Denny Avenue in Studio City. Cervantes said two males broke into the home, and when officers arrived, no one was there. In response, police increased patrol activity in the area.
Steven Calabro, a neighbor, told CBS News that he began taking photos of the burglars before they escaped.. He said the suspects attacked him with bear spray as he attempted to get them on camera. an incident that has raised concerns about the risks residents face when confronting people suspected of criminal activity.
Calabro said he shared all the information he had with police. Detectives are still reviewing the details, including what he captured and how quickly the suspects fled after their confrontation with a witness.
At this stage, detectives do not know whether the two incidents are connected. Investigators are weighing whether the burglaries follow a similar pattern, including timing, methods of entry, and how witnesses or alarms disrupted the suspects.
Meanwhile. the cases underscore how home alarms can alter the outcome of a burglary. often forcing suspects to run before investigators can identify what was taken or who was responsible.. Even when alarms do not prevent an attempted entry. they can raise the likelihood that neighbors or residents will notice unusual activity.
The Studio City report also highlights a different kind of deterrent: direct disruption by a person at the scene. But the bear-spray account shows the potential danger of trying to document or confront suspects, particularly when someone can turn a brief encounter into a physical attack.
For residents in affected neighborhoods. the incidents may prompt renewed attention to reporting suspicious activity promptly and ensuring that security systems are properly maintained.. Police say they increased patrols after the earlier break-in. reflecting the department’s effort to prevent additional incidents while the investigation continues.
Los Angeles burglaries LAPD investigation home alarm Studio City bear spray attack Beverly Grove alarms