Sheriff's Department Warns Residents to Be Alert for "Knock Knock" Burglars

Captain Joseph H. Stephen, Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's Station Unit Commander, is advising residents to be alert for the "knock knock" type burglars. This phenomenon has been occurring throughout West Los Angeles, Woodland Hills and the San Gabriel Valley for the past several months.

In Ventura County's North Ranch area of Thousand Oaks, police are looking for three men suspected of tying up a resident inside her home last week. These suspects entered through an open side entrance wearing ski masks and hooded sweatshirts. At least one of the suspects was armed. Once inside, they stole jewelry and valuables and fled.

The City of Calabasas experienced a similar burglary attempt on September 27, 2012. The suspects knocked on the front door; however, the resident inside did not answer. The resident was looking through a window at the unknown suspects. The resident armed himself with a shotgun and scared the suspects away. On October 16, 2012, a similar burglary also occurred in Westlake Village. In this incident the housekeeper returned home and the suspects fled the location. Although these are only two incidents, the Sheriff's Department still wants everyone to be aware and alert.

In most of these cases, if no one answers, the suspects go around to the side of the houses and look for an open door or window. Once inside, they steal all valuables in plain view and flee the location.

The Sheriff's Department is encouraging everyone to be vigilant and observant by not opening your doors to strangers and locking all doors. Keep the exterior of your residence lit in the evening hours and park your vehicles in a safe place.

Lastly, the Malibu/Lost Hills Station reports that overall part 1 crime continues to be below last year's averages by 4.5%; however, the community should not feel as though these incidents do not or cannot occur, even if they are very infrequent.

Things to look out for:

• Vehicles driving slow on your street
• Parked vehicles which are occupied
• Unknown vehicles parked in front your house or neighbor's house
• Suspicious subjects or unknown people walking through your neighborhood
• Suspicious subjects walking toward or away from your neighbor's homes that you cannot identify as your neighbors

If you observe anything or anyone suspicious in your community, please call the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's Station at (310) 456-6652 or (818) 878-1808. If it's an emergency (such as a crime in progress), please call 911.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact "LA Crime Stoppers" by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637) or using the website http://LACrimestoppers.org.

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