LAPD Archives - Proof with Jill Stanley

Can the LAPD Stop the Knock-Knock Burglars?

Alanis Morissette, Burglaries, Celebrities, Celebrity News, Crimes, Criminal Law, LA Lakers, LAPD, Nick Young, Nicki Minaj

The facts seem more like the plot to a new Home Alone sequel instead of real life — but real life it is. There has been a rash of burglaries targeted at celebrities and other wealthy elite in the San Fernando Valley (yes, “The Valley”) and the crimes have been committed by the so-called “knock-knock burglars.”

Why knock-knock burglaries? It’s actually not very creative (not sure we want our cops being creative anyway; we’ve got enough creatives in LA!) but basically these burglars are groups of 3 or 4 people (aka gang members, according to LAPD. And when I say gang members, I mean real gang members despite the cutesy knock-knock name), one person knocks on the front door and once that person confirms, via the knock, that no one is home, he signals to the others and they look for doors and windows in which to access the house. The goal is not to hurt anyone personally or to engage in violence, rather it’s all about “the stuff.” The burglars then drive quickly from the scene and get rid of the goods by going to pawn shops or gold melting facilities–they keep the cash, as it’s not traceable.

Though the wealthy may be in fear over their lost riches there is a bevy of police power on the case. Lt. Todd Hankel, commanding officer of LAPD’s West Valley Area detectives, said that the San Fernando Valley Knock Knock Burglary Task Force is targeting the criminal street gang members who have been preying on the residents living in the ritzy communities such as Studio City, Woodland Hills, Encino, Tarzana, Sherman Oaks, Chatsworth and Porter Ranch.

This news comes after Los Angeles Lakers’ Nick Young was the target of a recent theft in February with the criminals stealing cash and other valuables worth approximately $500,000. He’s not the only NBA star losing his loot. On Jan. 30, former Lakers player Derek Fisher’s Tarzana home was broken into, with thieves taking cash, jewelry and more worth approximately $300,000. Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig’s Sherman Oaks home was also hit by the knock-knock burglars.

But it’s not just the Valley that’s getting hit. PROOF had a one on one chat with Detective Dunn of the LAPD and the burglars are hitting homes from Santa Barbara to San Bernadino all the way to Newport. Apparently, celebs living in Malibu are a little safer than others because it’s just so darn hard to get out of Malibu quickly–PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) and the canyon roads leading out of Malibu are the only ways in and out and if those roads get backed up the burglars are stuck with a car full of stolen loot. According to Detective Dunn, the knock-knock burglars want to get rid of the goods and turn it into cash as soon as possible. Maybe Nicki Minaj who lives in LA and had approximately $200,000 worth of items stolen as well as damage to her home and Alanis Morisette whose Brentwood home was also cleared out should consider a move. (And really it’s an extra bummer for Morisette who suffered another recent financial loss when her manager stole millions from her. Click here for full article on that theft).

But fret not famous people with lots of money and expensive things! According to the LAPD, the task force consists of roughly 30 officers divided among surveillance teams, undercover detectives and patrol cars working to prevent and curb these incidents. And, task forces such as this have been formed in the past and have been effective in reducing the number of burglaries, Detective Dunn told us! But celebs, watch your dogs because although the goal of the knock-knock burglars isn’t to engage in violence they are known to pepper spray dogs when they encounter them inside homes.

We think it’s great that there is a task force to help stop these crimes but celebs maybe lay off social media and stop tweeting, posting and instagramming your every move and you might avoid being hit. The fact is, when you let the bad guys know where we you at all times, you make it pretty easy on them.

Stay safe!

At PROOF we love celebrity news as much as you do. So if you want more, celebrity news about A-Listers (and others!), we welcome you to explore the rest of the site.

Was Wyclef Jean the Victim of Racial Profiling

Rapper Wyclef Jean is calling for an investigation of racial profiling after being being stopped, handcuffed and detained by sheriff’s deputies in West Hollywood on Tuesday, March 21, 2017.

Jean says he was returning from a recording studio when he was pulled over. Via Twitter, Jean said he was,”asked by the police to put my hands up. Then I was told do not move. I was instantly handcuffed before being asked to identify myself.”

Jean continued to vent his anger on Twitter after the incident, writing, “I am sure no father wants his sons or daughters to see him in handcuffs especially if he is innocent.”

We agree with Jean–no son or daughter wants to see their father in handcuffs (this reminds us of the scene in The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story when Johnny Cochran was pulled over, asked to exit his vehicle, slammed down on the hood by a cop while his two young daughters watched from inside the car. Cochran was an Assistant District Attorney at the time; he was very quickly released).

Sheriff’s Sgt. Charles Duncan describes the events differently from Jean. Duncan says that the patrol units pulled Jean over because he was driving a vehicle matching the description of a suspect who robbed and pistol-whipped two people. The victims said the assailant was wearing a red bandana. Jean had on a red bandana at the time.

The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department also explained that a supervisor was on the scene during the incident in which Jean was detained for six minutes, and “explained to Mr. Jean about the investigation being conducted and the reasons behind his lawful detention.”

The Department said that Jean did not comply with the requests to remove his hands from his waistband and instead went to his trunk and did not follow instructions from deputies, which is why he was handcuffed during questioning.

Duncan said that when the deputies received more information and realized they did not have the assailant, they promptly released Jean.

The sheriff’s office eventually arrested two robbery suspects four blocks from where Jean was stopped.

While it’s a good thing the suspects were caught, we do understand Jean’s position especially in light of so much racial profiling recently as well as race related police brutality/police misconduct cases. And we also understand why Jean is concerned that the sheriff’s department is assassinating his character and calling him a liar.

Melanie Bonvicino, a spokeswoman for the singer, said, “Mr. Jean is requesting a formal investigation into racial profiling by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, LAPD chief Charlie Beck and the LA Sheriff’s Department while calling upon the ACLU and Black Lives Matter to join him in defense of civil liberties and racial bias.”

Despite Jean’s public call for an investigation, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department maintains their story is accurate and that there was no racial profiling and the fact that Jean went to his trunk and ignored their requests is what prompted and justified the escalation to handcuffs. The Sheriff’s Department does say it would like to clear the air with Jean.

We at Proof are sensitive to the both sides here–the need and right of individuals to be able to move freely through one’s life and through one’s community without threat of suspicion of a crime as well as the police department’s need to investigate crime.

This is not easy one though and we we hope that police cruiser dash cams recorded what went down with Jean so that the truth can come out. We truly hope racial profiling played no role–there is simply no place for that in our world.

At PROOF there’s nothing we like to do more than to share celebrity news; and we love sharing that celebrity news with you! Browse the site and see what hits you.