Burglary Investigation

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, December 14, 2000

"Burglary Investigation"

Rampart – On December 5, 2000, at approximately 1:00 p.m., two suspects, pretending to be construction workers, approached the victims in their residence and offered to fix the roof of the house. The victims, who are senior citizens in their eighties and live in the 900 block of East Edgewere Avenue, allowed one of the suspects inside their residence to discuss the offer. While that suspect distracted the victims, the other suspect entered the victims’ residence and ransacked the residence, taking an undisclosed sum of U.S. currency.

The victims observed two additional suspects who were waiting in an unknown type vehicle. The suspects are described as follows: 1- male Hispanic, black hair, brown eyes, 5’7", 180lbs, approximately 40 years old. 2- male Hispanic, black hair, unknown colored eyes, 5’7", 130 lbs., in his 40’s. The suspects had walkie-talkies in their possession, possibly used to communicate with each other and/or other suspects.

*** UPDATE ***

It has been discovered that the suspects responsible for the burglary of the elderly couple on December 5th are believed to be responsible for the following incidents:

On November 22, 2000 at approximately 11:00 a.m. in the 700 block of North Lafayette Park Place, the suspects approached an eighty-one year old female and pretended to be Department of Water and Power (DWP) workers testing for contaminated water. The suspects asked for changed for a $100.00 bill, however when the suspects observed where the victim kept her money, the suspects took the victim’s money. When the victim attempted to stop the suspects, she was pushed and peppered sprayed.

On December 12, 2000 at approximately 2:00 p.m. in the 3100 block of London Street, the suspects pretended to be construction workers as the December 5th incident and subsequently burglarized a seventy-seven year old male. The victim informed police that the suspects were driving a newer model light blue van without windows.

Elderly citizens are advised not to allow strangers inside of their residence. Further, if anyone claims to represent any organization or a city entity, please contact that organization or city entity to verify their information.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigating detectives are encouraged to call Detective F. Faustino or H. Anderson at Rampart Burglary, 213-207-2146.

This updated release was prepared by Officer Charlotte Broughton, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.

For Release 5:00 pm PST
December 14, 2000