The Crystal View neighborhood of Tujunga consists of seven small cul-de-sacs branching off a single main road and contains about 100 homes. At least seven of those homes have been burglarized in the past month, leaving residents uneasy.
Debbie Kane, the captain of her Neighborhood Watch, said neighbors are frightened. Her next-door neighbor was victimized two weeks ago in the middle of the afternoon. “They’re very scared,” Kane said.
“They dressed all in black, hoodies, mask,” Kane said. “You can’t see them. One stays in the car, three jump the side gate, go in the back, break in, get what they can, and they’re out.”
John Nunez, who lives down the street, said he and his neighbors are staying vigilant. “I’m very concerned,” Nunez said. “My wife is very concerned and we have to be on guard. My neighbors and I, we need to just be vigilant to what’s going on, and we hope the LAPD, who have increased their patrols, will continue to do so.”
The Los Angeles Police Department typically assigns one cruiser to the neighborhood at a time, though patrols have increased in recent weeks. A cruiser was seen making rounds this afternoon. An officer said this kind of criminal activity typically occurs in other parts of the San Fernando Valley but for unknown reasons has reached Crystal View.
Residents urged each other to take precautions to avoid becoming the next victim.
“We have Ring cameras all around our house,” Kane said. “I think everybody needs a security alarm.”