The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is looking for victims and witnesses in possible “knock-knock” burglaries in La Cañada Flintridge after two men pleaded not guilty in connection with recent LCF incidents.
The department’s Major Crimes Bureau continues to investigate a case in which three people were arrested on Nov. 10 after authorities discovered jewelry stolen from a home in the 800 block of Lynnhaven Lane in their vehicle, said Sgt. John Gilbert of the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station.
A 19-year-old man charged in that incident also is accused in a second residential burglary in the 5500 block of Burning Tree Drive in LCF, the Sheriff’s Department said.
In a “knock-knock” burglary, someone knocks on the front door to check whether a house is occupied, and if it isn’t, that person or a partner enters through another door to commit the crime. That technique was used in the Lynnhaven burglary, authorities said.
The 19-year-old from Los Angeles pleaded not guilty to burglary charges on Nov. 13 and faces a hearing Dec. 16 in a Pasadena courtroom, said Venusse D. Navid, public information officer for the county district attorney’s office. Another L.A. man, 20, also entered a not-guilty plea in one of the LCF incidents.
A Long Beach woman, 18, is scheduled for arraignment on Dec. 5 in Pasadena in connection with both LCF incidents.
The arrests occurred after Crescenta Valley deputies pursued a vehicle they said was driving recklessly at approximately 100 mph on the southbound 2 Freeway near Mountain Avenue. The chase was canceled because of the speed that it involved.
A traffic deputy later responded to a collision involving the suspect vehicle on the off-ramp at Mountain and four people were detained. Deputies said jewelry was found in the vehicle, and a separate investigation determined there had been a residential burglary on Lynnhaven.
Navid said the fourth person who was detained was found not to have participated in the burglary and was released from the Crescenta Valley Station.
Anyone who has further information is asked to contact the Major Crimes Bureau at (562) 946-7003. Those who prefer to provide information anonymously may call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).
Two Plead Not Guilty in Alleged ‘Knock-Knock’ Burglary
