An alert, proactive resident helped LAPD solve a burglary that occurred on the 100 block of South Lucerne on Tuesday afternoon around 5 pm. Lieutenant Bryan A.Wong, Commanding Officer of the LAPD Wilshire Detective Division, told the Buzz this morning the incredible story of how a female witness helped solve the crime.
Early evening of Oct. 2nd a Larchmont area resident returned home on Lucerne to find a man removing property from her back guest house. The suspect fled and bumped into a resident who lives down the street who recognized the man was up to no good. The witness followed him around the block to the Larchmont business district and kept an eagle eye out and eventually saw him get into a cab.
The witness called the cab company immediately and talked the dispatcher into giving her the location the suspect was being driven to, and shared the information with the LAPD. The LAPD worked with the Parole Compliance Unit in doing some investigation at the building, and also staked out the address, which was a large apartment building northeast of the Larchmont area.
The following day the LAPD witnessed the perpetrator, identified by his clothing and the witness’s description, ascending a fire escape to enter the apartment building. It is believed he doesn’t reside there but had friends in the building. The LAPD arrested the suspect who has several felony charges in his history, and who gave a full confession.
According to Lieutenant Wong, the LAPD expects the case to go to the DA’s office on Tuesday next week. “The initiative of the neighbor on Lucerne, and others in the Larchmont area, provided the key to solving this crime so quickly. While we discourage anyone from confronting a perpetrator and encourage people to call 911 immediately, the quick response by this good neighbor was essential in helping us capture the bad guy.”
Lieutenant Wong also reminded residents to lock all doors and windows. Many times the day-time burglaries are happening where a criminal sees an easy opportunity. Open windows, due to all the heat we’ve been having, are a draw to criminals.
Larchmont/Hancock Park residents are racist paranoid bigots. I was just driving through (I live by the neighborhood and drive through when going to work) when some white guy comes out of his house and starts taking my picture with his iPhone. When I confronted him, he accused me of watching him! I have never met the guy in my life! The guy started following me with his boyfriend in a Range Rover. I have no clue who these people were. I took their picture just to have a record, and the guy flipped out and tried to chase me down!