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Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council

S-T+Nearby Neighborhood Watch Meeting of 7/19/22

Posted on 07/20/22

S-T+Nearby Neighborhood Watch Meeting of 7/19/22, 9:00am
Tujunga Senior Lead Officer (SLO) Gloria Caloca hosted a Zoom mtg of 14 attendees that lasted about an hour.
► Tujunga crime is down 8% overall, but burglaries are up 2%, mostly from retailers leaving cash inside registers overnight. Some have been burglarized repeatedly—for leaving cash in registers repeatedly.
►The largest increases are in robberies, now mostly "Estes robberies." An Estes robbery begins as a simple misdemeanor retail theft for which the suspect probably wouldn’t be arrested or serve more than a day in jail. But if a store or security staff tries to stop the theft, the suspect instantly upgrades his/her crime to a felony when they use "force or fear" to avoid arrest or retain the stolen goods.  
► Sunland-LVT has an overall 14% increase, but a 24% decrease in violent crime! Burglaries and theft from motor vehicles are up.
►► S-T residents' complaints about quality of life crimes center around RV dwellings parked near homes. In spite of a recent "on paper" strengthening of the law, LAPD officers have received no clear directions or methods on how to deal with stubbornly parked RVs. If they are dwellings, they're untouchable barring generating other crimes like sewage, violence, prostitution, or drug dealing.
The rub is that Foothill Div. competes with all San Fernando Valley for the large tow-truck appointments to impound/tow RVs. But the deal-killing bottleneck is the lack any facility to put them once they've been towed!
Still, officers discourage long-term parkers by issuing citations for blocking sidewalk or driveway, expired registration, etc.
►►►We welcome recent CD7 hire Mary Macadam, who is coordinating with SLO Caloca in seeking prohibitive signage and boulders to block parking along Tujunga Canyon Blvd.
► SLO Caloca has been working these issues even while on vacation.
►► OF GREAT LOCAL INTEREST: A man allegedly seen on video bear-spraying a senior driver has turned himself in to Foothill Station following an arrangement by his attorney. The man was arrested and is out on bail.
► The death of a long-term S-T transient was still—at the hour of this meeting—under investigation and had not been ruled accident nor homicide, although there was no visible evidence of foul play.
► SWAT responded to an assisted living facility following reports of a man barricaded with a weapon. Faced with SWAT, he surrendered peacefully.
► Reported "dynamite" spotted in a local storage unit wasn't dynamite.
► At Foothill and Oro Vista, a wanted suspect was captured without further incident.
►► Responses to residents' voiced concerns:
Foothill Narcotics has frequently inspected the old Kmart for allegations it is a cannabis-growing site. It's an old rumor, but LAPD will re-check. Most grow-sites are in homes, and the stench of large-scale cannabis growing wafts widely.
Detectives sometimes get grow-house tips from a DWP branch that monitors spikes in electricity and water usage. Same for illegal hook-ups.
► The city's Safe Parking program still operating. Mary MacAdam previously worked at North Valley Caring, which is this site. However, RVs are no longer allowed due to their blocking lanes and access to food programs.
► When you see a transient's tent set up next to a power pole, occupants may well be stealing copper wire or power. CALL LAPD Dispatch if you see that situation. Officers first offer services, which are sometimes accepted, sometimes smoke-screened.
► Many local homeless are from S-T area and appreciate their relative safety here. SLO Caloca tries to make contact, learn their names and their stories. This can accelerate services, give her the ability to contact their relative after a mishap or, occasionally, the arrest of a long-wanted felon.
► Mary MacAdam addressed residents' concerns about undeserving people getting free food at food banks: Local banks ask for Zip Code, but most still run on the honor system. But North Valley Caring System has more interaction with requesters and is thus harder to scam. There was concern about "nice cars" getting free food. Look for yourselves.
► A Commerce Av. store owner mentioned that stores there pay an assessment for historic lighting, but haven't had streetlights for a while. Therefore, people of all ages gather at night, drop trash, leave dog poop, and degrade the area. SLO Caloca requested an extra patrol in that area, and they’ve given out a few citations for public drinking.
►► Fireworks! Notice to LAPD about perennial 4th of July fireworks locations arrived too late, just barely pre-Fourth. SLOs talked with some, but need more notice. SLO Caloca WILL door-knock more of them, but they're usually not at home—or..."not at home."
► Foothill effected a VERY LARGE fireworks bust in Pacoima, removing literally tons of fireworks from a residential home. Such storage is treasonous to neighbors as these explosives are unpredictable and go off in a chain reaction. If you see such evidence, PLEASE contact LAPD while it's fresh in your mind.
MacAdam reported that CD7's fireworks buyback took another 673 pounds off the streets!
► A resident suggests initiating communication about neighbors' fireworks with respectful contact. Some kids and younger people are simply uneducated in the carnage to hands, eyes and flesh. They may not understand huge dangers of brush or house fires, runaway pets, and triggering trauma in PTSD veterans.
►► The Northeast Animal Control property will be given up. There's a rush to give it to another rescue organization. Mary MacAdam will reach out to see if CD6 can help.
► Social media showed photos of a bear on Foothill in front of a 7-11. That's a long way from the hills, but reports of bear on local trails and hillsides abound. Take care of your pets! They're defenseless against wild predators.
► The homeless encampment on Foothill and Plainview—along with other areas—will get a cleanup on 28 July.
► Officer Caloca and Mary MacAdam took notes to follow up concerns they couldn't immediately address!
We THANK THEM for caring and helping!
 
Useful Contacts: 

In any emergency, always call 9-1-1! To get a non-emergency police car, call Dispatch: 1-877-ASK-LAPD ► TUJUNGA Senior Lead Officer Gloria Caloca:        Cell: 818-634-0754 | Off.: 818-756-8866 | [email protected] ► SUNLAND Senior Lead Officer Diana Figueroa:        Cell: 818-634-0705 | Off.: 818-756-8866 | [email protected] ► MARK ROSS, Neighborhood Prosecutor: 818-374-7580 | [email protected] ► LAPD VOLUNTEER MATTERS: Officer Milton Ramírez: [email protected] ► CD7 Mary MacAdam: [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.

 
THANK YOU for being part of S-T's anti-crime solution!
Very best to you and yours! Please stay alert and safe!
Jon von Gunten, Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council, Region 3 Rep