Man Posing as Realtor Suspected in Burglaries

A man who posed as a real estate broker and stole $3,500 in jewelry while looking at a Woodland Hills house may be responsible for four similar burglaries at expensive residences in the area, Los Angeles police reported Thursday.

Detective Chris Biller said the bogus real estate agent knocked on the door of a house for sale on Wells Drive on Wednesday afternoon and gave the resident a business card identifying him as an agent with Bradbury & Co.

Bradbury is a legitimate realty firm, but the suspect does not work there, Biller said. The card he showed the victim contained the name of a Bradbury salesman who is on vacation in Europe and is about 20 years older than the suspect, he said.

Biller said that the house had a for-sale sign in front and that the man asked to tour the property to determine if any of his clients would be interested in viewing it. While the man walked through the house and used a bathroom, he took several items of jewelry, police believe. The owner, who was not identified, did not notice the loss until after the man was gone.

Four other homeowners in Woodland Hills and Tarzana reported similar thefts Wednesday and Thursday to police and real estate companies, Biller said. Details of those thefts were not available.

The suspect was described as white, 22 to 30 years old, with blond hair. He is dressed well in casual clothes and a sports coat and appears to be targeting expensive homes that are for sale south of Ventura Boulevard.