NORTHRIDGE : Transient Dies in Office Break-In

A transient who was burglarizing a Northridge recycling center died of a heart attack before he could get away, Los Angeles police said Tuesday.

Two other transients found the body of Kenneth Gupman, 45, at BMN Recycling in the 19000 block of Parthenia Street about 2 a.m. Saturday, Officer Ken Kuntuzos said. Detectives determined that Gupman had burglarized the business and was about to flee when he suffered a heart attack and died.

Gupman had cut through an aluminum garage door, pried open an office door and broke into a file cabinet, where he took about $1,000 from a cash box, Kuntuzos said. Officers discovered cash in the pockets of Gupman’s clothes and on the ground near his body.

Detectives said the same business had been robbed in a similar fashion Dec. 26.