Arrests Made In Alleged Gang-related Burglary Ring Throughout Los Angeles

At slightest 8 group person been charged successful what nan Los Angeles officials person described arsenic a crime ringing enacting a drawstring of residential robberies crossed nan city.

Officers conducted what LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell described arsenic a "major operation" past week by executing simultaneous hunt warrants targeting nan burglary suspects. The suspects taken into custody did person ties to nan Rolling 30s and 55 Neighborhood gangs, McDonnell said successful a Monday property conference.

"The burglary unit and nan crimes nan targets of this cognition were members of what was referred to arsenic nan Rich Roll Burglary Crew, responsible for 92 residential burglaries successful nan metropolis of Los Angeles," McDonnell said astir nan case.

Investigators judge nan break-ins started arsenic early arsenic 2022 and person spanned nan metropolis successful West Los Angeles, Pacific Hollywood, Wilshire, North Hollywood, West Valley, northeast Devon Sure, Foothill and Topanga. It is not believed that this group is connected to a caller drawstring of burglaries successful nan Encino area, officials said connected Monday.

A breakthrough occurred successful February, erstwhile officers chased 3 suspects successful a conveyance that officers recognized arsenic being utilized successful 2 burglaries, according to McDonnell. Those 3 group were arrested connected February 12, and officers gained accusation that led to much imaginable suspects, nan main added.

While executing warrants, McDonnell said officers recovered devices to behaviour burglaries, respective firearms — immoderate of which were reported stolen — and ample amounts of ammunition. Other stolen items were found, specified arsenic jewelry, luxury handbags, and in installments cards.

McDonnell described nan methods utilized by nan unit arsenic "sophisticated," arsenic they allegedly placed cameras successful flower beds to show a victim's regular movements and utilized jammers to artifact wifi cameras and information systems.

Prosecutors will activity nan maximum punishment for nan suspects presently charged, which includes life sentences for those pinch anterior convictions, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman told reporters.

"These are not crimes of need; these are crimes of greed," Hochman said.

Eight of those precocious arrested are facing burglary and possession of controlled substances charges, Hochman said. Two of nan suspects who were already successful custody earlier nan cognition past week are facing attempted execution charges.

The territory lawyer noted that constabulary person been capable to apprehension what he called "fencers," aliases group who were trading nan stolen equipment done various intends specified arsenic pawn shops aliases online marketplaces. Those online marketplaces are cooperating pinch these investigations, Hochman added.

"When they get nan fencers, they spell aft nan existent burglars and residential robbers that stole nan worldly successful nan first place," Hochman said.

Another 45 burglaries are still nether investigation, he said.

Officials did not sanction immoderate circumstantial victims believed to person been targeted by nan suspects, but nan Los Angeles area has been location to respective high-profile break-ins astatine personage homes successful caller years.

Arrests were made erstwhile nan homes of actor Brad Pitt and vocalist Lionel Richie were surgery into earlier this month.

High-profile targets of robberies complete nan years see actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson; former reality tv prima Teddi Mellencamp, and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and his teammates Max Muncy and Freddie Freeman.