More burglars hit Glendale area

Burglars on Wednesday targeted five homes in affluent neighborhoods, pilfering cash, jewelry and computers while most residents were at work, police said.

In one burglary, thieves entered a home between 2 to 4 p.m. on the 1200 block of San Luis Rey Drive through an unlocked front door and stole a briefcase while the resident was taking a nap, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.

“We need people to be vigilant within their communities and neighborhoods,” he said.

Police were still investigating whether Wednesday’s rash of break-ins were connected to a recent spate of burglaries in the San Fernando Valley and Glendale committed by an organized group made up of South Los Angeles gang members.

The thieves have been targeting affluent neighborhoods for high-value, quick-resale items.

The burglaries on Wednesday occurred at homes near freeway access for quick exits — a technique associated with the criminal organization, Lorenz said.

Neighborhoods closest to surrounding freeways “are areas of concern” and are being closely monitored by police, Lorenz added.

Among Wednesday’s burglaries:

A resident left home in the 800 block of North Glendale Avenue for lunch and returned about 2 p.m. to discover the front door was broken and the interior was ransacked. Thieves got away with cash and jewelry.

Witnesses called police about 3:55 p.m. to a home in the 1400 block of Millar Drive after the front door had been kicked open and thieves got away with jewelry.

Another resident who returned home about 4:15 p.m. on the 3200 block of La Crescenta Avenue noticed her backyard dog door was open despite no longer owning a dog. She discovered cash and other small valuables stolen from her ransacked master bedroom.

About 5:32 p.m., residents on the 3400 block of Roselawn Avenue discovered their home front door was kicked open. Thieves ransacked their home and stole laptops.

Lorenz said the recent break-ins should remind residents to immediately call police when they notice unusual activity in their neighborhoods.

Prosecutors have already filed charges against six men and a woman who were allegedly connected to criminal group after they were arrested in Glendale last week on suspicion of home burglary.

Glendale police have been working with the Los Angeles Police Department as part of a task force to identify, monitor and arrest thieves connected to the regional criminal group.

Police detectives served warrants on Thursday to search the South Los Angeles homes of four of the six men, Lorenz said.