Encino residents, already dealing with a string of break-ins, need help tracking down two suspects who set fire to a dumpster in their neighborhood Thursday morning.
The suspected arson occurred around 1 a.m. in the 5000 block of Rubio Avenue, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. Security camera footage captured a dark pickup truck approaching an industrial dumpster outside a home under construction. It parked next to it briefly before the suspect in the passenger seat lit an object, possibly a firework, and threw it out the window.
It lands in the trash can and explodes as the truck drives away. A flash of light appears from the dumpster before the contents inside catch fire. Firefighters arrived about 10 minutes later and extinguished the flames within a few minutes.
The LAFD has not determined what type of explosive started the fire. Neighbors thought it was a Molotov cocktail.
The neighborhood, which a series of burglaries have expressed their frustrations with the city and law enforcement over the past month.
“We’re doing what we have to do to protect ourselves because we feel like we can’t rely on the city anymore,” said one resident. “Investing in patrols, getting people guns, unionizing, neighborhood watches, any kind of security measures we can think of to reinforce the goals here because it’s getting out of hand.”
Los Angeles police say they are increasing patrols and taking other proactive policing measures to address residents’ concerns.
