Editorial: Don’t sweat our mini crime wave

The casual reader of the Burbank Leader and Glendale News-Press can hardly be blamed for wondering if our cities are about to fall into the abyss.

Both cities have active murder cases, two men are accused of lifting more than $1 million — in cash! — from a Burbank home after tying up the housekeeper, and another man is accused of pulling a gun at a Glendale gathering and then barricading himself inside the residence.

The last item must have been particularly nerve-wracking for neighbors, as it happened a block away and two months after the bodies of an elderly couple were found in their home. Their grandson, who has pleaded not guilty, is accused of the homicide-by-ax.

And don’t even get us started on the now world-famous Nutella assault at the Burbank Costco last weekend. The tale of this relatively minor crime — which could still land 24-year-old Derrick Gharabighi an 11-year prison term — has gone completely viral, with news outlets from New York to Australia pawing for more and more details about the incident. Our apologies and condolences to the Burbank Police Department’s public information office.

(In case you’ve been trapped under something heavy this week, Gharabighi is accused of punching a 78-year-old man in the face after, police say, the elderly man suggested the younger one stop hoarding samples of the chocolate-hazelnut confection.)

Despite the headlines and the high online traffic, longtime readers and residents know these things come in waves. Yes, the last few weeks seem to be filled with a higher-than-average number of crime stories, but know that we cover all crimes of note. This means the weeks that there are little to no crime stories means essentially nothing happened.

Given that our cities are some of the safest for their size — except for pedestrian and traffic issues — we humbly suggest the residents of the Jewel and Media cities not read into this mini crime-wave too deeply. There are more important things to think about.