Crime Report for November 2012

Note:   All suspects are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.

Updated:  12/3/12

Police Catch Auto Burglary Suspects

Burbank Police officers working a vehicle burglary suppression detail in the downtown area on “Black Friday,” November 23, observed two suspects loitering in the Burbank Town Center parking structure located at 500 N. First St.   As the officers watched, the two suspects broke into a 1996 Honda and removed property.  The officers stopped the suspects as they began to leave, and recovered a wallet belonging to the victim and returned it to its owner.  

The suspects, Rudy Dominguez, 24, of North Hills, and a 16 year-old boy from Sylmar, were taken into custody.  Dominguez was booked into the Burbank Jail for conspiracy to commit burglary.  The juvenile was cited and released to his parents.  

Thieves Hard At Work Breaking Into Vehicles

300 bock E. Verdugo Ave.
November 28, at 8 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. November 29
Vehicle:   2005 Chevrolet van
Entry:   Door lock punched
Loss;   Tools valued at $400.

500 block N. Victory Blvd.
November 30, at 6:30 p.m.
Vehicle:   2005 Freightliner
Entry:   Wing window smashed
Loss:   None

1700 block Rudell Rd.
November 30, between 7 a.m. and 4:50 p.m.
Vehicle:   Unknown make
Entry:   Unlocked doors
Loss:   Apple computer, iPod, with a total value of $2,300.

Tis The Season For Vehicle Burglaries

As the Christmas shopping season gets into full swing, residents need to be care about what they leave in their vehicles.  Here are some recent vehicle burglaries as reported by the Burbank Police Department.

1300 block N. Naomi St.
November 14, between 3:30 and 6 p.m.
Vehicle:   2001 BMW
Loss:   Clothing, valued at $7,070

200 block W. Linden Ave.
November 15, at 10:30 p.m. to 9:30 a.m. November 16
Vehicle:   1996 Honda
Loss:   Auto parts valued at $550

300 block N. Screenland Dr.
November 16, at 11:30 p.m. to 9:45 a.m. November 17
Vehicle:   2007 Saturn
Entry:   Smashed window
Loss:   Clothing, camera, sunglasses, and cash, valued at $945

300 block N. Screenland Dr.
November 16, at 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. November 17
Vehicle:   2004 Kia
Entry:   Smashed Window
Loss: Computer and iPod  valued at $1,060

300 block N. Screenland Dr.
November 16, at 9:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. November 17
Vehicle:   2004 Jeep SUV
Entry:   Smashed Window
Loss:   Computer printer, office supplies, and iPhone valued at $700

200 block N. Kenwood St.
November 16, at 10 p.m. to 6:10 a.m. November 17
Vehicle:   2005 GMC SUV
Entry:   Smashed Window
Loss: camera, sunglasses, iPod, iPhone, and cash valued at $1,180

1700 Victory Pl. (Empire Center parking lot)
November 18, between 5:30 and 6:40 p.m.
Vehicle:   2011 Toyota Van
Entry:   Smashed Window
Loss: Cell phone, back pack, and school books valued at $390
Vehicle Vandalized In Parking Structure

Police are looking for one or more suspects who vandalized at 2007 Nissan sedan.  The car was parked in the Elephant Bar parking structure located at 100 E. Orange Grove Ave.  Sometime between 8 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on November 16,, a window in the car were smashed. 

Burglars Make Off With Expensive Jewelry

A home in the 1100 block of N. Rose St. was broken into on November 14.  The break in occurred sometime between 7:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.   The suspect or suspects smashed the rear sliding glass door to gain entry into the home.  The house was ransacked, and jewelry, children’s games, and an iPod were taken.  The stolen jewelry is valued at $60,000.

Dead Man Found Lying On Front Lawn

Burbank Police responded to the 300 block of Via Montana, on November 16, at 7:40 p.m., after receiving a report of a man down. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a man lying on the front lawn of a residence. The man’s dog was sitting next to him.  They checked the man for vital signs, and determined that he was dead.  No signs of foul play were found.  He did not have any identification on him.

The Los Angeles County Coroner was called to determine the man’s identity and cause of death.  The coroner’s investigators identified the man as Artashes Sarkisians, 59, of Burbank, and notified his family.  He had resided in the area where his body was found.  An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death. His dog was taken into protective custody at the Burbank Animal Shelter.

Cell Phone Leads Police to Burglar

A cell phone stolen in a daytime burglary helped police find the suspect.  A Burbank woman told officers that she was getting out of the shower around 2 p.m. Sunday, November 11, when she heard a noise in the back of her house in the 1700 block of Rose St.  She found the rear door open.  Then she hears a knock at her front door and a man by name. . When she says she does not know the person he is asking for, the man at the door leaves.

After the man leaves, the woman discovered that her wallet and cell phone are missing.  She immediately called the police.  Officers investigating the burglary were able to trace the phone to North Hollywood.  The victim postively identified the the man with the phone as the same man who was at her door.  Bryan Vasquez, 18, of North Hollywood was placed under arrest for burglary, and booked into the Burbank.  His bail was set at $50,000.  He is due to appear in court on November 14.
Robber Hits Starbucks On Pass Ave.

Entering a Starbucks and askin for water instead of coffee is a little suspicious.  A robber did just that Saturday night at 9 p.m., when he came into the Starbucks located at 347 N. Pass Ave.

The robber displayed a handgun in his waistband, and ordered the employee into the back room.  He then emptied the cash from the safe into a backpack and fled out of the store in an unknown direction.

A search of the surrouning area was unsuccessful.  The suspect is described as male Black, 5’10”, with an athletic build.  He was wearing a Raiders jacket.
Residential Burglary

A burglar broke the rear bedroom window to gain entry into a home in the 800 block of Uclan Dr. on Saturday, November 10.  The resident told police the break-in occurred sometime between 4:30 and 9 p.m.  The thief took jewelry.

Trio Of Burglars Steal Restaurant’s Cash Register

When the burglar alarm went off at Caminitis, the owner went to the business went to the popular restaurant located at 1220 W. Burbank Blvd.,  and found that the rear door had been pried open.  When police officers arrived on scene, they reviewed the restaurant’s surveillance footage.  It showed three male Blacks entering the business at 3:30 a.m. Saturday morning, November 10.   The trio of burglars walked straight to the cash register on the counter, and carried it out the door.

The suspects are described as being in their 20’s.  All wore dark pants. One had on a baseball cap, another wore a gray sweatshirt, and the third had on a red sweater. The amount of the loss is not known.

Graffiti Remover Caught Tagging

An employee of a company contracted by the City of Burbank to remove graffiti, has been arrested for vandalism and other charges, after he was caught applying over 100 graffiti tags throughout the city.

Enrique Medrano, 53, an employee of Grafitti Protective Coatings (GPC) had been under investigation since September shortly after the company noticed discrepancies in his work orders.   Ironically, Burbank Police became aware of unusual graffiti activity through monitoring using GPC data technology.  During the course of the investigation detectives followed the suspect as he made his rounds throughout the city, documenting his tagging activities.

According to police, Medrano is suspected of applying graffiti, then  removing it, billing the City of Burbank for work performed.  The fraudulent billing totaled $2,200, which GPC says the tax-payers will not be billed.

Medrano was arrested on November 8, while he was working in Burbank.   He was arrested for burglary, vandalism, and forgery.  His bails set at $20,00.   He is scheduled to appear in court on December 3.

Don’t  Bring Your Valuables To The Gym

The Burbank Police Department is encouraging residents not to bring valuables with them when they go to workout facilities.  The department is currently investigating a number of thefts from lockers at various workout/gym facilities around town, including thefts from vehicles parked at these facilities.

Some of the reported thefts have been from lockers inside the facilities, that were left unlocked and unattended.  Others have occurred where locks have been manipulated and removed, or cut off.   If you must bring valuables with you, they recommend keeping them with you at all times.

In the event you see any suspicious activity, the police ask that you obtain as much information as possible about the suspect, including a vehicle license number, then   call the Burbank Police Department at 818-238-3000.

Man Shot In The Hand

Airport Police officers stopped a driver for speeding near the entrance to the Bob Hope Airport at Hollywood Way and Thornton Ave. Friday, November 2, at 2:15 a.m. When they contacted the driver of the silver Mercedes-Benz, they found he had a gunshot wound to his hand.  Burbank Fire Department paramedics responded and transported the man to the hospital, where he was treated and released.

When the unidentified man was interviewed by Burbank Police, tld them he had been shot while driving northbound on the Golden State Freeway through Burbank.  However, evidence indicated the shooting took place in the 1800 block of Landis St.  Detectives are investigating the shooting. There is no suspect information, and no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is urged to contact Det. Henry Garay at 818-238-3264.

Auto Burglars Target Cars At Downtown Restaurants

Burglars had a field day Friday, November 2, when at least 12 breaks ins were reported for cars parked in parking lots and structures by downtown restaurants.

Four vehicles were broken into at the Black Angus parking lot, located in the 200 block of S. First St., between 3:50 p.m. and 11:50 p.m.  They included a 2011 Nissan sedan, a 2006 Land Rover, a 1997 Ford SUV, and a 2006 Toyota pickup truck. In each incident a window was smashed to gain entry.  Item stolen from the vehicles included purses, gym bags, and credit cards, with a combined value under $300.

Two more vehicles were broken into in the parking lot at BJ’s, in the 100 block of S. First St.  A 2003 Nissan pickup truck and 2006 Ford pickup truck both had windows smashed between 9:45 p.m. and midnight.  The loss from each is unknown at this time.

At the Elephant Bar parking structure located in the 100 block of E. Orange Grove Ave. a total of six vehicles were broken into between 6 p.m. Friday and 1 a.m. Saturday morning.  Vehicles broken into include a 2012 Dodge SUV, a 2000 Hyundai sedan, a 2005 Chevrolet pickup truck, a 2008 Toyota pickup truck, a 2009 Lexus sedan, and a 2011 Volkswagen.  The burglar or burglars smashed a window to gain entry into each of the vehicles.  One vehicle owner told police that the thieves had made off with a Louis Vuitton wallet, drivers license, credit cards, and $3,000 in cash.  Two laptop computers missing, three cell phones, and one iPod were reported missing in these break-ins.

In addition to the auto burglaries Downtown, police received reports of two more cars being broken into Friday night.  A 2005 Chrysler sedan had a window smashed between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Saturday morning, in the 100 block of S. Sparks St. The car was ransacked, but apparently nothing was taken.  In the 500 block of S. Victory Blvd., thieves smashed a window to get inside a 2006 BMW. The burglary occurred between 6:30 p.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. Saturday, when the break in was discovered.  Taken were a 17 inch MacBook Pro, and two pairs of Rayban glasses, with a total value of $4,000.

No suspects are in custody from these auto burglaries.  Burbank Police believe the same suspect or suspects may be responsible for all these burglaries based on the similar modus operandi.