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Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council

Report: Neighborhood Watch Zoom Meeting, 17 May

Posted on 05/18/22

Neighborhood Watch Zoom Meeting, 17 May
28+ attendees joined the 9:00 a.m. meeting electronically.
 
Home Burglary on Betty Lou Lane: Foothill Det. Steven Smith addressed this recent two-man crime. Neighbors spotted prowlers and notified LAPD. Officers arrived in minutes, in time to arrest both alleged perpetrators! That's Community Policing!
 
Street-Resident Patrick was arrested on 12 May in an incident that involved multiple charges and resisting arrest. Several officers employed body cameras throughout. He was arraigned in court on 16 May, then released on his own recognizance with a June court date. Till then, he's on a 500-yard(!) stayaway order from Von's.        
        The trigger for this event was Von's signing a private person arrest document for the many shopping carts Patrick had allegedly stolen over time. Any photos of him violating the 500-yard stay-away from Von's should be sent to Senior Lead Officer Vi Potter, contact data below. As this is an ongoing case with several charges, no more details can be released.
 
Sunland Senior Lead Officer (SLO) Airam "Vi" Potter said the homicide reported here last month actually occurred elsewhere, NOT in S-T! She received a resident's hearty thanks for getting rid of a motor home on Grove St.
Sunland-area crime is up 26.3% generally. The worst is burglary from motor vehicle, up 68%! GTA is also up. Aggravated assaults are up, but have mostly been people who know each other, not random assaults. Porch thefts are up, so take steps against losing your packages!
 
Sunland Park update: SLO Potter coordinates these actions with Park Director Nichole Royer. An LAPD task force and Park Rangers recently issued citations. An elderly female who has lived at the park 13 years has moved across the street. Another sweep is planned in June. Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council board member Leny Freeman, who replaces the park's doggy-doo bags, says vandalism in the park has greatly decreased!
        The process of removing an RV at Grove/Oro Vista RV was long but routine. Even though it was clearly abandoned, the towing appointment took more than a month to arrive. The question arose: When the new law is fully implemented so officers can legally get RVs towed, how long will that wait for a towing appointment then become? https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/la-to-lift-moratorium-on-towing-illegally-parked-rvs-resume-enforcement-may-15/ar-AAVYYxW
Another Sherman Grove RV has dwellers, so will just receive polite visits, outreach and suggestions. Our on-the-street officers still have no input from LAPD command staff on when—and how—to begin acting on the new law's vague wording.
 
Tujunga SLO Gloria Caloca says Part 1 (serious) crimes are down but one subset of that, violent crimes, is up 61%, meaning 6 more. Property crimes are down 6% and SLO Caloca thanks residents for reporting events so LAPD can arrive early, before things become actual crimes. 0
► A resident reported frequent robberies at the car wash at 7400 Foothill. Helicopters around Amanita-Cabanas were a burglary in progress.
▲ There is safe homeless RV parking in North Hills. Even so:
▲ McGroarty has new overnighters. Under the new law, impounding can't happen yet because, so far, only DOT can enforce, not LAPD.
▲ Three RVs on Valaho/Valmont moved to a nearby side street.
▲ A Day St./Pali woods-dweller is on private property. Caloca offered Building & Safety her help if necessary.
▲ Buildings at 7636 Foothill have been a homeless camp. Squatters were escorted off and the property owner is reputed to be selling.
▲ One Valaho Dr. RV resident has been cited for several matters and asserts he's trying to leave.
▲ The RV man on Mountair needs outreach, as he's in the hospital 2-3X a week. Caloca requested help from CD7 and the man asserted that none came.
▲ CD7 has activated Building & Safety for the RV across from golf course. May be a delay as it's on county or private property.
▲ Only owners can report trespassing on their private property—but commercial owners seldom do.
►► REQUEST city outreach and intervention for the homeless at "LA-HOP" online.
 
Useful Contacts: 

In any emergency, always call 9-1-1! To get a non-emergency police car, call 1-877-ASK-LAPD ► TUJUNGA Senior Lead Officer Gloria Caloca:         Cell: 818-634-0754 | Off.: 818-756-8866 | [email protected] ► SUNLAND Senior Lead Officer Airam "Violet" Potter:         Off.: 818-756-8866 |  [email protected]) | ► LAPD VOLUNTEER MATTERS: Officer Milton Ramírez: [email protected] ► EMAILS are the best way to contact them. Send photos if possible, or come into Foothill Station at 12760 Osborne St., Pacoima, 818-756-8861.

 
THANKS for caring, helping and reporting!!
Very best!
Jon von Gunten
Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council, Region 3 Rep
Written as a private citizen