Sixth Sunset Park Burglary Boosts Concerns

By Olin Ericksen
Staff Writer

February 2 -- Police will address Sunset Park residents at a neighborhood meeting Wednesday night after a string of burglaries -- the latest on Monday -- has left many unnerved and questioning if the crimes are connected.

In the latest incident, burglars forced a door open at the residence on the 2400 block of 23rd Street, making it the sixth burglary since December 8. The burglaries, and one attempted burglary, have occurred within a few square blocks of each other in the southeast section of Sunset Park.

It is still unclear whether some or all of the burglaries are connected, but police said Wednesday the fact that they have occurred in the same general area raises suspicion.

In response, police are stepping up their presence in Sunset Park.

"We will have a high visibility in the area," said Police Spokesman Lt. Frank Fabrega, who was invited by the neighborhood group, Friends of Sunset Park, to speak at the meeting. "There will be uniformed officers as well as undercover officers patrolling the area."

In addition to speaking about the burglaries, police are expected to review ways to better safeguard residents' homes against burglars.

The move by police to boost patrols comes at a time when residents, who created two new neighborhood watch groups near the targeted homes, are holding meetings in their neighborhood.

Though still under investigation, Police spokesman Lt. Frank Fabrega said there appears to be no evidence linking the burglaries and noted that Santa Monica had 328 burglaries last year.

Fabrega said Monday -- before the latest burglary -- that it is "difficult to say," whether a clustering of burglaries like this suggests a pattern, but characterized it as "not unusual."

Concerned citizens are not taking any chances.

In addition to inviting police to speak tonight at the "Friends of Sunset Park" community meeting, 16 residents attended a neighborhood watch meeting Sunday with Community Relations Officer Mike Cveyich, according to police.

The purpose of the meeting was to stay informed about the break-ins and review home safety. Another meeting is scheduled for this week.

In addition to the neighborhood watch meetings, police last week left alerts with area residents, informing them that "several residential burglaries have occurred within the past few weeks in the neighborhoods between Centinela and 20th Street, between Pico Blvd. and Ocean Park Blvd."

The flyer urges area residents to "be on the alert for any suspicious person and/or activity in your area," and report any suspicious circumstance to the Santa Monica Police Department's non-emergency phone number.

The police response comes after the community began posting public notices on street poles in mid-January and asking council members to have the department assign extra police patrols.

Police said the community flyers misinformed residents that there had been "home invasion burglaries," giving unfounded cause for alarm. Police said none of the burglaries were home invasions.

While police did not release any information on the stolen items, they did say the way the burglaries were carried out does not suggest a pattern.

Some of the burglaries, Fabrega said, appear to be "crimes of opportunity", where residents failed to lock their doors or where the door had been "pried" open.

In addition, there were different points of entry and there is currently no description of any suspect or group of suspects.

Police are providing residents with tips on how to safeguard against a burglary. They include the following:

1. Lock all doors and windows when you leave your residence.

2. Make sure all side and back gates are locked.

3. Don't hide a key outside.

4. Turn on all exterior lights at night time.

5. Always leave lights on when you leave the house.

6. Leave lights on in back of your house and garage at night.

7. Have neighbors keep an eye out.

8. Look for unusual vehicles.

Wednesday's Friends of Sunset Park community meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Mt. Olive Church, located at 14th and Ocean Park Boulevard.

Police are encouraging anyone who wants to attend or host a neighborhood watch meeting to call their community relations officer, Mike Cveyich, at 458-8474.