North Hollywood Plagued by Vehicle Break-Ins; Homeowner Confronts Thieves: Video

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, Jan. 29 (KNN) — A homeowner took it upon himself to confront thieves breaking into a work van as a rash of vehicle break-ins plagued a residential area in North Hollywood overnight.

The Los Angeles Police Department received multiple calls regarding vehicle break-ins in the vicinity of Beck Avenue and Saticoy Street around 12:15 a.m. Monday.

Surveillance video obtained by Key News Network with permission shows two of the multiple vehicles reported being broken into by suspects.

First part of the video shows suspects pulling up to a work van, breaking the window and stealing thousands of dollars worth of tools. Surveillance video also shows a homeowner running outside with a baseball bat, hitting the burglars and smashing the window of their getaway car.

The second video shows another break-in in the same area. Surveillance video shows the same suspect vehicle reversing, and breaking into another car. No valuables were taken, but a window was broken.

A homeowner spoke to Key News Network on-camera at the scene and said he had heard the [car] alarm go off, went outside and saw two people – one person driving – come to the corner, backed up, smashed the side of the window, then smashed the front of the car. Glass was seen on the ground, shattered. He said at that point, they tried to get into the car, then they took off and ran.

The frustrated homeowner said, “This has happened three times on this block already…people have to start arming themselves, we’re going to have to take care of ourselves…I just don’t understand it anymore.”

Keith Johnson, Video Journalist / KNN