About 20 cars were broken into along Erwin Street near Cahuenga Boulevard in North Hollywood early Thursday. The LAPD received a report at 5 a.m. and is asking residents with video footage to contact detectives. No arrests have been made.
About parked along near in were broken into early Thursday morning, June 18. Residents woke to find shattered glass on sidewalks and inside their vehicles, with items stolen from glove compartments, seat pockets, and other storage spaces.
The Los Angeles Police Department received a report of the break-ins at approximately 5 a.m., according to NBC Los Angeles. No arrests have been made as of Thursday afternoon.
One resident told NBC Los Angeles that every vehicle hit appeared to have its passenger-side window smashed. The thief or thieves moved methodically down the block, targeting parked cars in sequence.
"Every car targeted appeared to have the passenger-side window shattered, including her vehicle. She said items were missing from the glove compartment, seat pocket and other areas inside the car."
Photos shared with news outlets showed glass scattered along the curb and inside car interiors, according to NBC Los Angeles reporter Camilla Rambaldi.
The LAPD has asked anyone with surveillance or dash-cam footage to bring it to the North Hollywood Community Police Station. Detectives are following up on leads and walking the block, knocking on doors to gather information.
Residents said they are combing through doorbell camera and dash-cam recordings to identify the suspect or the vehicle used. Neighbors who recorded the overnight activity are being urged to preserve video timestamps before sharing footage with investigators, according to Hoodline.
The Erwin Street spree is the latest in a long string of vehicle burglaries in the neighborhood. Historically, LAPD data has identified the North Hollywood Division as one of Los Angeles' leading hotspots for vehicle break-ins and grand theft auto, according to the New York Post.
Earlier this spring, the LAPD said it would step up patrols after a string of burglaries in the San Fernando Valley. CBS Los Angeles reported that the North Hollywood Division had investigated 156 burglaries through April 11, a figure the department said was lower than the same period last year.
Auto burglaries are particularly common in heavily trafficked areas such as the NoHo Arts District, near the NoHo Metro Station, and on residential streets where apartment dwellers rely on curbside parking.
Some residents called for better street lighting and more visible patrols on the block, at least while detectives try to track down whoever is responsible, according to Hoodline. Others expressed frustration on social media, with posts reflecting anger over what they see as a lack of accountability for repeat offenders.
Authorities and safety experts advise motorists not to leave bags, sunglasses, phone chargers, or even loose change visible inside their vehicles. Drivers who need to store belongings in a trunk are encouraged to do so before arriving at their destination, rather than while parked.
Victims are being asked to file a report at the North Hollywood station. The department's crime-prevention hotline is 877-ASK-LAPD.
Police continue to investigate and are asking anyone with information to contact detectives.
This article was generated with AI assistance.