LOS ANGELES (CNS) — In response to a spike in so-called “knock-knock” burglaries in the San Fernando Valley in 2017, Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitchell Englander submitted a motion offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible.
Los Angeles has experienced more than 1,700 residential burglaries this year, and the San Fernando Valley has seen a 25 percent increase, with more than 1,400.
Police say a great deal of them are the result of “knock-knock” burglary teams, where the suspects knock on the front door of a home to determine if anyone is inside before breaking in.
“‘Knock-knock’ crews are very sophisticated, they know exactly what they are doing,” Englander said at a news conference at City Hall. “They knock on the door and then somebody else will wait on the side of the house.”
Although the motion said the reward would be for information related to “knock-knock” burglaries in 2017, Englander said the reward would apply to information on any burglary.
“In order to be eligible for the reward, all you have to do is report that you have some information that could lead to the apprehension and conviction of a burglary. That’s it. It doesn’t have to be a `knock-knock’ burglary,” he said.
The burglaries have spiked in particular in the northwest valley, in neighborhoods like Porter Ranch, Chatsworth and Granada Hills, which are patrolled by the Los Angeles Police