Break-in hurts Scout budget

NORTH GLENDALE — Burglars targeted the Boy Scouts of America chapter on Grandview Avenue on Wednesday night for the second time in a little more than a year, officials said, forcing the nonprofit to again spend hard-earned money on repairs.

A staffer with the nonprofit Verdugo Hill Council, a chapter of the national organization, was working late Wednesday and discovered a broken window about 10:30 p.m. in the building’s printer room, said Executive Director Jon Maeda.

The room appeared to be disheveled, but no objects were stolen, he said. The burglary attempt likely occurred between 8:30 and 10:30 p.m., Maeda added. While nothing was stolen, he said the $400 costs of replacing the broken window was horrible timing for the chapter.

“We are in the midst of a budget crunch,” Maeda said.

Paying for damages caused by burglars and for security upgrades eliminates critical funding that would be spent on programs, he said.

In January 2009, a thief broke into the building’s accounting office through a window and stole a computer and scout uniforms from their community store, he said.

No arrests were made in connection with that burglary, Glendale police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.

Soon after the burglary, the chapter decided to tighten security, Maeda said.

The chapter spent $1,500 on installing additional deadbolt locks on all the doors to ensure that burglars don’t steal valuables from the entire building, he said.

The installation of the additional lock likely kept burglars out of other rooms during the burglary attempt Wednesday, Maeda said.

Glendale police are investigating the broken window and burglary attempt, Lorenz said.

“Our goal is to try to reduce these crimes the best we can,” he said.

In the past seven days, 11 burglaries have occurred throughout the city, Lorenz said. And in the past month, 76 burglaries were reported, he added.

Four burglaries were reported in the past seven days in the west command area, where the chapter is, Lorenz said.