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Encino residents demand action after rise in crime
Community leaders in Encino are set to demand action from LA Mayor Karen Bass and other city officials.
LOS ANGELES - Encino community leaders are demanding action from Los Angeles city officials on Thursday in response to a reported rise in crime in the area.
What we know:
Community leaders from the Encino Neighborhood Council and the Encino Property Owners Association gathered at Van Nuys City Hall to present a list of written demands.
They are calling on the mayor, the city councilwoman, and the Los Angeles Police Department to address a rise in crime that they say has targeted the Encino neighborhood for years.
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Encino families, LA Mayor upset with recent crimes
As Encino residents air out their frustrations over recent crimes in the area, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass blamed staffing problems with city's police department. Bass shared her frustration with the delay in the hiring process of LAPD officers.
The backstory:
The call for action follows the murders of former "American Idol" music supervisor Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas DeLuca, on July 14. The suspect was identified by authorities as 22-year-old Raymond Boodarian. He is accused of murdering the two, both aged 70, during a home burglary.
Boodarian was charged with two counts of murder, as well as one count of residential burglary with a person present. His arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 20.
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Additionally, the neighborhood has been experiencing a wave of burglaries, with some homes being targeted repeatedly. Just hours after the community gathered for a meeting to discuss the rise in crime, two break-ins were reported in the area. One of the homes belonged to "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Teddi Mellencamp, the daughter of musician John Mellencamp. The suspects got away by the time police arrived.
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Encino leaders urge action amid rise in crime
The demands follow a recent home invasion where a couple were murdered and a series of ongoing burglaries in the area.
Local perspective:
In response to the uptick in crime, the LAPD said it is implementing an "all-hands-on-deck" strategy to address recent crimes and public safety concerns in Encino.
The strategy includes increased patrols, focused burglary investigations, air support, and community outreach.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said the initiative will be led by LAPD command staff, the West Valley Division, burglary detectives, patrol officers, and community relations personnel.
According to McDonnell, the strategy is based off lessons from the summer 2024 public safety campaign, with expanded efforts to address recent crimes.
Big picture view:
In a statement, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the LAPD has intensified its "crime suppression strategy" in the area and remains committed to public safety.
"Since day 1, Mayor Bass has led a comprehensive strategy to public safety that holds people accountable while preventing crime from happening in the first place, and that’s why homicides are on track to be the lowest in 60 years," the statement read. "Mayor Bass looks forward to the community meeting tonight."
Dig deeper:
Below is the full letter sent to city officials:
What's next:
A Zoom call is scheduled with the mayor for later tonight. It is not yet clear what specific actions city officials will take in response to the community's demands.
The Source: This report is based on live, on-the-scene coverage from reporter Gigi Graciela, who is in Van Nuys where a community meeting is taking place. The information is directly sourced from her reporting on the demands of the Encino Neighborhood Council and the Encino Property Owners Association, as well as the events that led to their call for action.