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Crime & Safety

Distraction Burglaries

Police are asking residents to beware of burglars posing as city inspectors, DWP or construction workers.

Police today released suspect sketches in a series of distraction burglaries that have happened throughout West Los Angeles in the past year. Six residential burglaries where a man poses as a city inspector, a construction worker or a Department of Water and Power worker and talks with a resident outside a home while a colleague sneaks into the home have been reported, according to police.

The burglars mostly seek jewelry.

Burglaries of this kind have occurred in the 2700 block of Bagley Avenue, the 1800 block of Barry Avenue, the 1600 block of Comstock Avenue, the 1900 block of Armacost Avenue, the 10300 block of Kewsick Avenue and the 1500 block of Kelton Avenue.

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The burglars almost always work in pairs and sometimes more, and the individual whose job it is to distract the resident is usually on a cellphone -- likely talking to the second suspect.

People who think they may have been approached by the suspects were asked to call 911 or LAPD detectives at (310) 444-1524 or (310) 444-1522.

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