Los Angeles police arrested two crews Wednesday in connection with separate burglaries in Sherman Oaks and Cheviot Hills.
The first arrests came after police responded to a report of a burglary in progress around 12:30 p.m. at the Hollywood Hills community in the 3000 block of Longridge Avenue, Sherman Oaks. The first officers to arrive on the scene found the suspect’s vehicle in the 2000 block of Coldwater Canyon Boulevard, southwest of the alleged burglary.
The suspects, 29-year-old Keyshawn Isom and 24-year-old Damond Collier, surrendered to police after a traffic stop. West LA detectives believe they may have committed another burglary in their area. Both men were arrested for burglary and have $50,000 bond.
The second round of arrests came after a break-in in the Cheviot Hills area around 2:30 p.m., the LAPD said. Detectives learned of the incident after a resident encountered three male burglars standing outside his home near a broken window. After spotting the man, the group ran to the front of the house and escaped before officers arrived.
However, a witness gave investigators a photo of the suspects’ black Cadillac Escalade. Hours later, officers located a vehicle matching the description of the getaway car and briefly chased it through West LA. The suspects exited the Escalade after it crashed into the back of a parked van.
Officers immediately arrested the driver. They eventually arrested three more men after setting up a perimeter and bringing a K9 unit to the scene.
Police have arrested the driver, Jonathan Lopez, for felony evasion. Bail is set at $0.
The three other men — Keilan Edison, 20, Kai Campbell, 19, and Auston Grimes, 18 — were arrested for attempted residential burglary with a person present. Edison will be held without bail, while the two others will have to post $50,000 bail to be released.
LAPD investigators do not believe the two gangs are related.
West LA has become the latest target for thieves, with the LAPD warns residents about organized groups sneaking through the area.
“We’re seeing groups of burglars coming from South Central L.A., and they’re much more brazen than the South American teams,” said LAPD Capt. Richard Gabaldon. “So they’re not intimidated by the homeowner.”
