Crime Updates and Community Next Steps
As some of you may have heard, two homes in our neighborhood experienced break-ins over the weekend. This brings us to a total of five break-ins that have occurred in the last 30 days. From the most recent reports we have received, the suspects have been on foot and possibly entered (and exited) the community from the Cabrini side of the neighborhood via the trails leading into the Cabrinis.
These crimes are being committed by professional, organized criminals who know where to go in our homes and how much time they have before police arrive. They also have some awareness of the fact that no one is home at the time. The homes they are targeting have all been entered via the second floor balcony into the master bedrooms.
We know that this is a very scary and stressful situation for all homeowners, especially those directly affected, and that there is a desire for action to be to taken. We highly encourage all homeowners to invest in security cameras & alarms immediately.
We also encourage homes on the Cabrini side of the neighborhood to be extra vigilant since this seems to be an easy area of access for these criminals.
Additionally, if you have any security footage or helpful tips about any of the break-ins, or would simply like to express your concern about the break-ins to the Burbank Police Department, please reach out to our main point of contact is Officer Karissa Peltier (kpeltier@burbankca.gov) or call the non-emergency number at 818-238-3000.
Below are details we have received for both recent break-ins:
Break-In on Saturday, October 30 - 3349 Durham Ct
On Saturday night at around 10:30PM, the resident at 3349 Durham Ct. returned home after being out and heard noises upstairs. The resident had left the house at 6pm and the break-in happened around 10:30PM through the upstairs master bedroom balcony.
When the burglary suspects heard the homeowner inside the home, they quickly exited the house and left the neighborhood on foot. The resident called police and seven police units arrived on site at approximately 10:50PM. Thankfully no one was harmed during this break-in.
The home unfortunately did not have security cameras or an alarm system at the time.
Break-In on Sunday, October 31 - 3400 block of Castleman Ln.
Around 7:48PM on Sunday night, the residents of a home on the 3400 block of Castleman Ln. were contacted by the security alarm company and informed there was a break in at their house. The security alarm company also notified Burbank Police Department who responded with six police units (including a K9 unit) arriving on scene at 8:05PM for further investigation.
Based on security footage, four suspects entered the home from the upstairs master bedroom balcony and in a very short time (despite the alarm going off) were able to quickly enter the home and take the resident's property. Based on security footage, the suspects entered and exited on foot again from their backyard on the Cabrini side of the neighborhood.
The home had security cameras and an alarm system which helped expedite Burbank Police Department response.
What The HOA Is Doing
Due to the urgency of the current situation, the Burbank Hills Community Association is convening an emergency neighborhood board meeting TOMORROW, Tuesday, November 2 at 7PM. More details to come shortly.
We encourage all homeowners to attend and hope to have a representative from Burbank Police Department as well as Allied Security on the call.
The Board is also taking the following immediate steps to increase access control measures in the community:
The Castleman entry gate, previously left open between 4:00PM - 7:00PM (per direction from the City of Burbank) is now closed 24/7 and will follow the new protocols we shared last week for visitor entry.
We have asked Allied to provide a 24/7 vehicle patrol in order to provide an additional presence in the community over the next few weeks. They will have an update on this tomorrow.
Per recommendations from the Access Control Committee, we will be adding security cameras to be installed in key areas of the community with blind spots including the fire access roads as well as license plate cameras at both gates.
Start immediate bid exploration to add pedestrian gates to both entrances and finalize bids on updating the gate on the fire access road on Lamer.
In addition, the Access Control Committee is meeting tonight to discuss additional recommendations for the community as a whole that they will share on the call tomorrow.
Reminder: Per our CC&R’s, the Burbank Hill Community Association cannot and does not undertake to provide security or privacy for the property, the owners or the residents. If this is something the neighborhood desires, the CC&R's would have to be amended by homeowner vote.
We hope you can join us tomorrow night on the emergency neighborhood call where we will discuss the steps we are taking and hear more from the Access Control Committee about other recommendations.
-The Burbank Hills Community Association
NOTE: The goal of this communication is to keep Burbank Hills homeowners informed of criminal activity that has occurred in our neighborhood.