Armed suspects threatened a Panorama City family with guns after breaking into their home Sunday night, stealing jewelry and electronics. No arrests yet as LAPD investigates.
A Panorama City family was awakened by burglars who threatened to shoot them after breaking into their home Sunday night.
The home invasion took place around 10:35 p.m. in the 9500 block of Cedros Avenue, according to Los Angeles police. Officers said a family was asleep at the time of the invasion and was woken by the suspects' footsteps.
Karla Mendez said her husband called her at work, thinking that she had come home early.
"He said he heard sounds and the light was on," Mendez said. "I told him to check. He said 'No. What if it's burglars?'"
According to police, one of the suspects verbally threatened the family. Mendez said the suspect threatened to shoot her husband and their two girls, who are 15 and 7 years old, if they tried to stop them.
The suspects ransacked the home before fleeing the scene. The family said the suspects stole purses, phones and jewelry.
The thieves got away with some jewelry, according to the family
The family doesn't understand why they were targeted because they don't own fancy items or nice cars.
Arrel Sanchez, the father, described the terrifying moments when two burglars, one of them armed with a gun, said they'd shoot him if he didn't stay where he was.
Sanchez was hiding in a bedroom with his 7- and 15-year-old daughters as the burglars ransacked their home.
LAPD called it a hot prowl, which is a burglary where the suspect breaks into a house while someone is home, typically in a violent way.
No arrests were reported Monday morning. LAPD filed a report, but there isn't much of a description of the two male suspects who broke into the home, other than that they were wearing black hoodies.
LAPD says it is still looking for the suspects involved.
Police recovered a crowbar at the scene. No injuries were reported.
This incident is one of the latest amid a string of burglaries and break-ins in the San Fernando Valley.
Late last Thursday, two suspects broke into a Hollywood Hills home and stole $20,000 from a woman in her 70s.
Mayor Karen Bass has ordered additional police patrols in parts of the San Fernando Valley following several recent burglaries that have heightened concerns among residents and business owners.
LAPD has increased patrols and is adding new mobile surveillance equipment in Studio City following a string of recent home invasions.
Sanchez told Eyewitness News he wonders why his family was targeted. He noted that he doesn't have a business, a luxury car and is not rich.
Sanchez's wife, Karla Mendez, said she also doesn't know why they were targeted. She said maybe it was just their bad luck.
The family said they don't have much and just moved in. On May 11, they will have lived there for a month.
According to the family, some of the jewelry stolen from the home was gifted to the 15-year-old daughter for her quinceañera.
This article was generated with AI assistance.