Police arrest Chevy Chase Canyon burglary suspects

Four Los Angeles men were arrested Monday on suspicion of burglary in Chevy Chase Canyon, which has been plagued recently by a series of “knock-knock” break-ins, police said.

The men — Damion Lawson, 21, Alonzo Tolbert, 29, Timothy Bavis, 31, and Antawn Robinson, 32 — were stopped about 5:30 p.m. in a tan Chevrolet sedan near the Glendale (2) Freeway and Holly Drive as they were leaving the canyon, according to Glendale police.

Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said the men were scoping out possible burglary targets “and got caught in Glendale.”

Police say several homes in Chevy Chase Canyon have been burglarized recently. In most of the break-ins, witnesses described the alleged burglars as black, in their 20s to 30s and driving a light-colored Chevrolet sedan.

The burglars typically knock on a home’s front door to check if someone is inside. If no one answers, the burglars walk to one side of the home to gain entry.

On Monday, the men allegedly did just that, police said.

A resident in the 2900 block of St. Gregory Road heard a knock at his door and answered it to find a man wearing a checkered shirt and glasses, police said.

The man reportedly asked if someone who didn’t live there was home. The man looked past the resident’s shoulder and walked away. Soon after, the resident reportedly spotted the man running out of his neighbor’s backyard.

The man’s actions, Lorenz said, prompted the resident to call police.

Responding officers spotted the sedan traveling on Chevy Chase Drive toward the freeway.

Robinson reportedly told officers the group was visiting Glendale to purchase clothes at the True Religion store at the Americana at Brand, but they got lost and were driving around for five hours, police said.

Tolbert reportedly told police they went to Camarillo Premium Outlets, took the wrong freeway on their way home and got lost.

Police searched the Chevrolet after Bavis told them he was on parole for burglary.

They found two pairs of gloves, a screwdriver and radio scanners — all of which were hidden in a hollowed compartment in the car’s front passenger seat, police said. Additional gloves were found in the trunk.

According to police, the scanners were monitoring Los Angeles Police Department and Pasadena frequencies.

Police said the resident positively identified the Chevrolet, and recognized Tolbert as the man who knocked on his door and ran from his neighbor’s yard.

Robinson was also on parole for burglary, police said. Lawson was also arrested on additional outstanding warrants for violating a promise to appear in court or pay a fine and driving on a suspended or revoked license.

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