Local News in Brief : Parolee Held as Suspect in Pacoima Burglaries

Los Angeles police arrested a recently paroled burglar suspected in as many as 40 Pacoima home break-ins committed as the residents slept, authorities said Thursday.

Kenneth Lee Johnson, 27, of Pacoima, was arrested early Thursday on suspicion of burglary, Lt. Bernard D. Conine said.

Police had organized a seven-officer undercover task force to watch the area where a rash of similar burglaries was occurring, and, on the team’s first night out, Johnson was caught driving a car stolen in one of the recent burglaries, Conine said.

The two-month burglary wave was of a type called “hot prowl” crimes because the victims are home and because the burglar “does it for the thrill of it,” Conine said.

The Pacoima burglaries occurred between midnight and 3 a.m. in an area bordered roughly by San Fernando Road, Osborne Street, Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Terra Bella Street. The take often was petty cash ranging from $20 to $200, and items that were stolen rarely were traceable, Conine said.

The car Johnson was driving early Thursday was stolen at 3 a.m. Monday from a Pacoima home that also was burglarized, Officer Ed Heissel said. The victim, who also lost his wallet, a camera and some clothing, slept through most of the crime but was awakened by the starting of his car, Heissel said.

Johnson was being held without bail in the Foothill Division jail pending a court appearance, Conine said.

Johnson was given a four-year sentence for burglary in 1985 and was paroled from state prison in April, according to the state Department of Corrections.