Crystal View, a small pocket of Tujunga tucked off one main road, spans seven cul-de-sacs and roughly 100 homes. In the past month, at least seven of those homes have been burglarized, leaving neighbors on edge.
Debbie Kane, captain of the local Neighborhood Watch, said residents are frightened. Her next-door neighbor was targeted two weeks ago in broad daylight.
“They dressed all in black, hoodies, mask,” Kane told Eyewitness News. “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 wife are taking the spike seriously.
“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.”
Only one LAPD cruiser is assigned to the neighborhood at a time, and the patrol was observed making rounds this afternoon. One officer said this type of criminal activity usually occurs elsewhere in the San Fernando Valley but, for reasons unknown, has now reached Crystal View.
Residents are being urged to take precautions to avoid becoming the next victim.
“We have Ring cameras all around our house,” Kane says. “I think everybody needs a security alarm.”