Los Angeles (CBSLA) Authorities were actively searching Tuesday for an armed man suspected of multiple break-ins in the Shadow Hills and Sunland-Tujunga neighborhoods of the San Fernando Valley after he was allegedly spotted attempting a Los Angeles water and electricity utility to break in.
Surveillance video of an armed man alleged to have committed multiple break-ins in the Shadow Hills area of the San Fernando Valley. November 2021. (Ring)
Los Angeles police told CBSLA that the suspect has been held responsible for up to 10 break-ins into homes and businesses since October 19.
At 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday, a LADWP security officer discovered the suspect, who was carrying a long gun and attempting to enter a LADWP property near the Green Verdugo Reservoir in Sunland-Tujunga, police said. An official told CBSLA that he may have crawled under a gate to gain access to the LADWP property.
“The mannerisms and the way he moves and what it looked like, the gun style, we believe this is the same person,” said Lt. LAPD’s Eddie Ginter told reporters on Tuesday.
Police sealed off a large area near the Sunland Boulevard exit on Freeway 210. Twelve LADWP employees were locked in an officer-guarded room and local residents were asked to protect themselves on site. A LAPD SWAT team was brought in along with K9 units. The 210 freeway exits to Sunland Boulevard have been closed.
At 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, the suspect was not found and the search area was resolved.
Los Angeles police are looking for an armed drifter who broke into several homes and businesses in Shadow Hills and Sunland-Tujunga neighborhoods. November 16, 2021. (CBSLA)
“If he knows one of the drainage systems or the small rivers he can go through, we think he’ll get out that way or avoid us,” said Ginter.
At 8:50 am, however, the police were called to break into an empty house on the 10,000 block on Sunland Way. The officers responded with guns drawn. Electronics, tools and items were stolen from a storage room in the vacant apartment. The owner informed CBSLA that she was moving.
“I came down to check the property and both latches are removed from the POD and someone stole half of our property,” said the woman, who refused to be identified.
It is unclear whether the Shadow Hills dodger is suspected.
Over the past few weeks, neighbors have been sharing surveillance camera images of the suspect. The pictures show him with various weapons, including an assault rifle and a hunting rifle. Investigators believe he stole some of the guns.
“We have everything locked up, we stay in our house all the time,” neighbor Heidi Gonsalves told CBSLA on Monday. “‘What is that noise?’ Check all of our cameras. It was very, ‘What’s wrong? Why is this happening to us?’ “
Police said there were no confrontations and no reports of gunshots or injuries in any of the break-ins.
The suspect is stealing various items, according to police. In one incident, a security guard was threatened before the suspect ran away.
November 2021. (Nextdoor app)
The break-ins occur in a largely equestrian area with a lot of overgrowth and riverbeds where neighbors believe the suspect might be hiding. Scared neighbors would like to see more patrols in the area.
“You (local residents) should be concerned,” LAPD assistant director Alan Hamilton told CBSLA on Monday.
“We’re pretty confident we have a prime suspect we’re looking for,” he added.
The suspect is described as Hispanic, 30 to 40 years old, six feet tall, and weighs 150 to 170 pounds. He has a marijuana leaf tattoo on his right upper arm.
“We checked the possibility that it was a person who is homeless,” said Hamilton. “We’re not counting it out, but we checked areas nearby where some of the people are often homeless and we couldn’t find a suspect who matched the description.”
On Tuesday, Ginter said investigators believe they have identified the suspect but hope to use DNA and other evidence to confirm it.
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