Local burglaries on the rise?

Deputies don't think so


A series of burglaries in Oak Park and Agoura Hills over the past two months have caused local residents to stand up and take notice, but sheriff’s deputies say the crimes are in keeping with recent trends.

Five home burglaries occurred in Oak Park and nine in Agoura Hills in March and April. Residents responded by sending a flurry of e-mails to warn others in the community.

"We take each incident seriously and we are investigating. But to say there’s been a rash of burglaries in Oak Park is completely inaccurate," said Capt. Bill Flannigan of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

While he appreciates the value of a communication network among residents, Flannigan called the e-mails "bordering on hysteria."

"That scares people and makes them feel unsafe in their homes and that’s wrong," Flannigan said. "The source of the e-mails is rarely the victim. It’s the victim’s friends and the facts end up getting distorted."

Sgt. James Royal of the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station said there have been no more burglaries in Agoura Hills than in past years. What’s unusual is that the recent burglaries occurred in a concentrated area, Royal said. "I can see that being a concern for the people in those neighborhoods," he said.

There were five residential burglaries in Oak Park in the past two months compared with nine total burglaries in 2007. In Agoura Hills there were nine burglaries in March and April compared with almost 60 in 2007, statistics show.

In Oak Park in March there was an attempted burglary on Blackpool Avenue. On April 14 there was a burglary on Ellesmere Way in which the suspect entered through an open window; and another burglary on Evanwood Avenue involving a suspected neighborhood youth. On April 16 there was a burglary on Basswood Avenue in which the suspect entered through a sliding door. A burglary attempt also was made on Peregrine Circle.

Flannigan said Oak Park has natural protections because it’s not as close to freeways as other communities.

In Agoura Hills five burglaries occurred between April 8 and 14 on Rista Drive, Rolling Ridge, Saddlebrook Drive and Calabria Drive. In March there were burglaries on Ridgeway Drive and Woodglen Drive. Two months ago two Asian men from Los Angeles were caught after burglarizing a Morrison Highlands home.

Flannigan urged residents to keep windows and doors locked and to be on the lookout for suspicious activity.

Without fingerprints or witnesses it is difficult for police to investigate, Flannigan said.



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