Burglary Spree Leads Beverly Hills Police to Beef Up Patrols

Beverly Hills police know the burglars are out there.

They know which neighborhoods will be targeted, how the burglars will enter the houses, and even the property that is likely to be stolen.

Now it is just a matter of capturing the two or three burglars suspected of breaking into more than a dozen Beverly Hills homes during the last two months, police said.

The rash of burglaries started on Dec. 7. A Beverly Hills family returned from dinner at a local restaurant and discovered a rear sliding-glass door had been smashed, and thousands of dollars in property taken.

Since then, a total of 16 mansions between Santa Monica and Sunset boulevards have been burglarized, and about $350,000 worth of property has been stolen, said Detective Bill Pritchard.

While the break-ins continue, police have increased patrols in the area and assembled a special undercover unit.

The burglars enter the houses by smashing a window or glass door, bypassing alarms and often climbing through second-story windows. Once inside, the burglars snatch the traditional booty, such as jewelry, but they also seize heavy items, such as large Persian rugs.

“That’s why we know there must be more than one man. Some of the things, like the Persian carpets, can’t be carried out of the houses by a lone burglar,” Pritchard said.

Usually the thieves strike between dusk and 8:30 p.m., while residents are away at dinner.

Home alarms have not been effective because the burglars seemingly target windows not equipped with “smash detector” devices, Pritchard said.

Smash detectors are triggered by the high-frequency sound made when a window is broken.

The thieves apparently peer into the homes to see which windows are not equipped with the smash detectors, often going through upper-story windows that are less likely to be rigged with the alarms, Pritchard said.

The burglars also know something about electronics or alarm systems because they are able to bypass other types of window alarms, he added.

“They’re good, they’re quick, and they’re obviously not afraid to take chances,” Pritchard said.

There are a few simple things residents can do to protect themselves, he said.

Be aware of people loitering on the street or sitting in a parked car, Pritchard suggested.

It is likely the burglars are watching a block of houses, or are driving by when they see a person pull out of the driveway, he said.

By driving once around the block, the homeowner can get a look at any unfamiliar cars parked on the street, he said.

Residents also should make their house look occupied by leaving on lights and a television set when they are away, Pritchard said.