Most high end residential burglaries in Los Angeles are not random. Police have described organized groups, some traveling from South America on tourist visas, that pick homes near canyons, hiking trails, and open space, watch them for days, and strike when the family is out. In May 2026 the Los Angeles County District Attorney charged seven people in more than 20 organized burglaries across the San Fernando Valley, Beverlywood, and Westwood.12
What crews look for
- An empty house. Social media posts from a trip, a game, a premiere, or a restaurant tell a crew exactly when nobody is home.
- A back way in. Homes that back onto hillsides, trails, golf courses, or vacant lots let a crew approach without walking past the front gate.
- Second floor access. Balconies and primary bedroom doors upstairs are often unlocked and less likely to be alarmed.
- Wireless security. Police have reported crews using Wi Fi jammers to knock wireless cameras and alarm sensors offline before entering.
- The safe and the closet. Crews go straight to the primary suite for jewelry, watches, cash, and handbags, and are often gone in minutes.
Layers that make them move on
No single product solves this. What works is layering, so that a crew watching the property sees risk at every step.
Visible people
A posted officer or randomized patrol is the strongest deterrent, because it removes the certainty that the house is empty.
Hardened tech
Hardwired cameras and an alarm with a backup communication path are much harder to jam than an all wireless setup.
The back side
Lighting, sensors, and patrol checks on the hillside and trail side of the property, not just the front gate.
Quiet routines
Post travel photos after you return. Brief staff and family on what not to share.
When to add coverage
The highest risk windows are predictable: extended travel, holidays, a public moment that puts your address in the news, and the weeks after a burglary on your street. Many of our estate clients start with coverage for exactly those windows, then decide whether they want a year round program.
If it happens
Do not go inside if you see signs of a break in. Call 911 from a safe place. Write down anything you noticed about vehicles or people in the days before, because crews usually scout first, and those details help investigators connect cases.