July 18, 2025 Your Source for Brentwood News

Crime Up in Brentwood

Senior Lead Officer Philip Enbody
Crime is up in Brentwood, particularly burglaries, according to Senior Lead Officer Philip Enbody. At a recent meeting hosted by South Brentwood Residents Association, Enbody said there was much we all can and should do to “harden the target.â€
Burglaries in 2011 were up 133 percent over 2010. While this percentage increase might seem alarming, crime had been falling for a few years prior to 2011. The 2011 numbers are just getting back up to where we were in 2008 and 2009, said Enbody.
Officer Enbody reviewed the year’s crime activity and reported there were 517 crimes in 2010 and 610 in 2011 which was an 18% increase. The biggest problem is burglaries, which had increased 133% in 2011. He said there were 39 burglaries in 2011 in South Brentwood’s territory from Westgate to Santa Monica and 26th Street and south of San Vicente to Wilshire.
Access was typically gained through unlocked doors and windows; some were pried open, some were smashed or the door was forced by pushing and/or kicking. When the alarm was switched on, 90 percent of the time, the burglars left and moved on to an easier target.
Officer Enbody said the single best precaution to take was to:

• SWITCH ON YOUR ALARM IF YOU HAVE ONE
• Be sure all locks are operational and lock your doors and windows
• Have back-up devices in the event your alarm fails
• Dogs ARE a deterrent
• Install exterior sensor lights that go on at dark and off at dusk.
• Close your draperies, put lights on, play TV or music.

Most burglaries are occurring around the 900 block of Dorothy and the 1100 block of Wellesley. Out of the 39 burglaries, 14 were condominiums. No weapons were used apart from equipment to pry open doors/windows. Fingerprints obtained at a crime scene can take 6-8 months to process.
Officer Enbody said that crime decreases when LAPD patrol cars are present. Paying for private security services (ACS, ADT, Brentwood Patrol, etc.) can also help.
The police use an equation to determine how many cars and officers they need to deploy to specific areas based on the analysis of recent crime activity. Usually the LAPD has one basic car patrolling Brentwood; recently this was increased to three or four cars.
Most burglaries occur during the day. Burglaries that happen at night are usually when the occupants are not at home; burglar(s) typically check to see if anyone is at home before entering. Construction sites are also targets.
The most common items stolen from homes are cash and jewelry. The description of the perpetrators covers a wide range of physical appearances. Stolen goods are typically ‘fenced’ or sold on EBay or Craigslist;
Officer Enbody also discussed the early release program (prisoners from state prisons being released early) and said that burglars tend to return to the area they previously frequented.
Enbody did not recommend using firearms if confronted by a burglar. Sometimes during a scuffle, a resident’s weapon can wind up in the hands of the burglar. Officer Enbody suggested citizens call the numbers listed at the end of this article. Non-emergency activity can be reported to www.alertcommunity.com.
House alarm calls are prioritized, with panic calls at the top of the list. 98.6 percent of house alarms are false, so an alarm alone might not result in a quick response. The real value of alarms, said Enbody, was that they scare away burglars and alert the neighbors who are often quick to look in on the situation.
Officer Enbody said neighborhood watch programs can be valuable. Neighbors should exchange information such as phone numbers and when they will be gone on vacation.
The most effective neighborhood watches are those that are constantly communicating. Email trees are very effective and Officer Enbody suggested adding his name to your list so he is aware of what is going on in your area. Signs indicating an area has a neighborhood watch program might be a deterrent.
Neighborhood watches can be a very useful communication tool not just for crime/burglaries but also for disasters and emergencies, he added. Enbody encouraged residents to set up a residents’ meeting and he and Ray Klein would make a presentation on how to set up a neighborhood watch program.
Officer Enbody issues a weekly Crime Report of the Brentwood area; email him at 24914@lapd.lacity.org to be added to his list.

Emergency 911
Non Emergency 877.275.5273
Sr. Lead Office 310.444.0735
www.alertcommunity.com

in News
Related Posts

Nearly $1B Secured for Refinancing of Westfield Century City Mall

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

The proceeds will replace a $925 million commercial mortgage-backed securities loan, originally issued by Morgan Stanley in 2023 and due...

West Coast Premiere of ‘The Opposite of Love’ Opens at Hudson Backstage Theatre

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Produced by Neil Gooding Productions, behind shows like Back to the Future: The Musical, the play runs Thursdays through Saturdays at...

Study Highlights Economic Impact of Cap-and-Trade Extension in Los Angeles

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders are pushing to reauthorize the program this year, citing its role in generating 287,000...

Man Arrested in Brentwood for Impersonating Firefighter During Palisades Fire

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The suspect faces at least 28 criminal counts—including 23 felonies—spanning incidents from 2023 to May 2025 Federal and local law...

Mayor Bass Hails National Guard Withdrawal as Victory for Unity

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The Pentagon’s decision to reduce the troop presence follows weeks of legal challenges and public demonstrations Mayor Karen Bass celebrated...

(Video) Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The outpost is a first for the popular influencer Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?...

Tesla Seen Nearly Crashing into West LA Home After Collision

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

Footage depicted a blue Prius on the road with significant front-end damage A crash involving injuries was reported around 12:30...

DUI Checkpoints to be Conducted Across LA This Weekend

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The LAPD selects checkpoint sites based on data indicating high incidents of impaired driving-related crashes and arrests The Los Angeles...

Dodgers to Host Back to School Bash for Fire-Affected Families

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The free event will offer free groceries, school supplies, outfits, haircuts, medical screenings, and carnival rides The Los Angeles Dodgers...

What to Expect at This Weekend’s “Conquer The Pier 5K and 1 Mile Race/Walk” in Venice

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

Proceeds will fund community programs, youth sports, and park enhancements The Conquer The Pier 5K and 1 Mile Race/Walk will...

LA Sees Second Straight Year of Homelessness Decline, Leaders Celebrate Progress

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The survey, designed by the University of Southern California, reported a 17.5% drop—the largest two-year decrease on record The Los...

Hundreds of Red-Legged Frog Tadpoles Released in Santa Monica Mountains

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Once widespread in California, red-legged frogs vanished from the Santa Monica Mountains by the 1970s Nearly 600 California red-legged frog...

Federal Judge Sides with Santa Monica, Other Local Governments Against Immigration Raids

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete praised the ruling, saying it reaffirmed the city’s commitment to protecting residents from unjust detention...

California Hits Two-Thirds Clean Energy Milestone

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

This year, clean energy has powered the state for an average of seven hours daily, with over 90% of days...

Beverly Hills Plans Major Apartment Development Near Civic Center

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

The site, currently holding 13 residential units, is slated for demolition to make way for the new development A proposal...