The bad news...

From Jennie, an Encino Park neighbor who blogs at valleygirly.blogspot.com (the posting from which this is excerpted is NSFW or kids; most of the rest is family/boss friendly, and a really cool blog you should be reading)


Hello there -- my fiance and I live in Encino Park. This past Friday while we were at work, our home was burglarized and many valuables stolen. We had received the recent community alert warning us of the thefts in the area and had been taking extra precautions with locks on windows and doors, and we have two dogs, one of whom is very protective, large and mean. But to no avail -- they forced a lock on one of our bathroom windows and the dogs were in the backyard and could do nothing. In speaking with neighbors, I have learned that the burglaries are occurring at an alarming rate in the past two months or so, and wanted to let you know so you could perhaps post something about it on your blog and e-mail people who live in the area since our area is apparently being targeted, and there is no sign of it slowing down. The only clue we have to go on is that one of our neighbors noticed what she thought to be a gardeners truck parked right in front of our house that day. We don't have a gardener, and our neighbor's gardener was not due until Tuesday. It was suspicious, and a perfect cover for a robbery when you think about it.

Yeah, it is a great cover. Gardeners, various repair persons, pool servicers, etc, are transparent and anonymous. They must belong here, or they wouldn't be here, or so we think - but we need to be a little more vigilant. The encinoblogger's neighbor's truck was broken into on Sunday night - next time, guys, try the door; it was unlocked and you could have at least spared him the glass repair bill - and an irreplaceable photo album was stolen. There is too much of this going on. Good news is that Jennie and probably others had kept serial numbers for their stolen valuables. If these guys go to a pawn shop, they'll get caught.

Meanwhile,lock everything; use your house alarm; get a doggie door so that your dog can actually protect you (Jennie's dogs were in the yard as the crime took place; she's since gotten a doggie door). Keep as little as possible in your car when it's parked on your driveway, and don't confront a burglar if you interrupt him/her in the act; get away quick.