This rash of home burglaries in the La Palma area of North Orange County committed by youths is nothing new. The police blame the warm weather as people tend to leave their windows open. These kids aren’t that smart. Besides, this is Southern California. We leave our windows open almost year round. The things is, victims of these home burglaries aren’t doing much to prevent them in the first place.
By DENISSE SALAZAR / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
LA PALMA – Four burglary suspects, including a 17-year-old girl, were arrested in connection with ransacking homes and taking cash, jewelry and electronics, a police sergeant said. Two suspects remain on the run.
Kenneth Arana, 19, of Los Angeles (left) and Cameron Becker, 18, of Cerritos were arrested on suspicion of three residential burglaries in La Palma, police said.
On Monday, police arrested a 17-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man on suspicion of trying to get inside a home in the 5400 block of La Luna Drive, La Palma police Sgt. Raul Morales said.
At 1:21 a.m., police got a 911 call from a resident reporting that two males were trying to get inside his home through a back window, Morales said. The males fled before police arrived, but a 17-year-old boy was found hiding behind shrubbery in the front yard of a nearby home. His alleged accomplice, Kenneth Arana of Los Angeles was arrested several hours later at a motel in Cypress, Morales said.
Arana was booked on suspicion of burglary and is being held at the Orange County Jail. His alleged accomplice was taken to Juvenile Hall.
Later that day, officers investigated three residential burglaries that apparently happened between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. while residents were at work.
Around 4:50 p.m., a resident returned to her home in the 7200 block of Rampart Lane and discovered the master bedroom was ransacked and cash and jewelry were missing. Morales said the burglars got in through an opened window on the side of the house.
Officers also responded to a home in the 5300 block of Verner Drive after the resident came home and found noticed jewelry and electronics were taken. Morales said it appears the burglars got in through an unlocked rear window.
As officers were taking a report, the next-door neighbors reported their home was ransacked and the back window was broken, Morales said. Jewelry and electronics were missing from the home.
“I believe a lot of this has to do with the heat,” Morales said. “Burglars realize people are leaving windows opened when they are at work and they are taking the opportunity to find the homes with opened windows.”
Shortly after 2 p.m. Tuesday, officers went to a home in the 5400 block of Andrew Drive after a woman called police to report she found four people burglarizing her home, Morales said.
The suspects ran out the back door, jumped over a block wall and into a neighbor’s yard, Morales said. The resident followed them and detained a 17-year-old girl. The resident suffered minor injuries while trying to detain the girl.
Three male suspects ran through the neighbor’s backyard and down Marview Drive. Officers searched the area and found 18-year-old Cameron Becker two blocks away. The other suspects got away.
Becker’s vehicle was parked in front to the home and items taken from the home were found in the neighbor’s yard and along their escape route, Morales said.
The teen-age girl was booked at Juvenile Hall on suspicion of burglary. Becker is being held at the Orange County Jail on suspicion of burglary.
Detectives believe the teen-age girl, Becker and their alleged accomplices are responsible for the burglaries at the homes on Rampart, Verner and Andrew, Morales said.
Police believe the suspects are responsible for additional burglaries that may have not been reported to police. They are asking anyone who has been the victim of a burglary or who may have information about the suspects to call La Palma police at 714-690-3370.
There are many steps to getting your home fully secured, but when it comes to windows, there are security screens that can be installed that are active 24/7 and allow you to leave your windows open while having your alarm system enabled. Contact me for more information about this effective and inexpensive solution so you don’t become a victim of a home burglary.
