LAPD Issues Community Alert Amid Surge in Upscale West LA Neighborhood Burglaries
Thieves Target High-End Valuables in Residential
Break-Ins Across West Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has issued a community alert following a surge in residential burglaries across several upscale neighborhoods in West Los Angeles, including Bel Air, Bel Air Crest, Benedict Canyon, Beverly Glen, Beverlywood, Brentwood, Cheviot Hills, Holmby Hills, Little HolmbyWestwood, Pacific Palisades, Riviera, Westwood Hills, Westwood South areas. The warning comes after a series of break-ins targeting single-family homes, with thieves focusing on highend valuables such as jewelry, luxury handbags, and cash.
According to the LAPD’s West Los Angeles Area Crime & Community Intelligence Center, the burglaries appear to be the work of an organized crew of 2 to 4 unidentified males. These suspects typically strike homes that seem unoccupied, often using ladders, outdoor furniture, or drain pipes to access secondstory master bedrooms.
The LAPD alert states that the suspects then smash or cut out a glass partition of the door, crawl in, and remove property. Once inside, they ransack the rooms for
valuables like jewelry, watches, highend purses, safes, and US currency. Often, suspects leave a lay-off/ getaway vehicle out front with a suspect acting as a lookout in case of law enforcement response. Suspects carry handheld shortrange radios for communication with the lay-off vehicle/lookout. Suspects also carry a WIFI Jammer to disrupt the WIFI signal of wireless residential security cameras like RING or NEST.
Residents are urged to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity. Police recommend several preventive measures, including installing video surveillance systems, securing sliding glass doors with poles or alarms, and ensuring that safes are bolted down and equipped with GPS tracking devices. Additionally, neighbors are encouraged to engage in community watch programs and share information through platforms like Ring or Nextdoor.
• Sometimes, the suspects attempt entry while the victim is inside their residence.
• Hours of crimes vary throughout the day and night.
• Suspects are crews of multiple males, usually masked and gloved.
• Suspect vehicles are usually rentals with dealer paper plates, temporary paper plates, or “cold plates”- freshly stolen plates that have not yet been reported.
• Some suspect vehicles have been seen working in tandem with up to two cars.
• Suspects also remove the vehicle
plates before committing a crime to avoid police or surveillance detection.
• A residence may be a greater target if it lacks video surveillance, an alarm system, or an active security guard on patrol.
• Check your backyards and residence
perimeter for possible hidden recording devices, and be aware of drones (which are used to monitor a residence and residents’ patterns of life).
Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to contact LAPD Detective Carrillo at (310) 444-1568 or (213) 216-5308.
New Covid-19 Vaccine Comes with $200
Tag at Pharmacies Amid Insurance Delays
With Federal Funding
Ended, Most Major Insurers Are Not Covering the Vaccine
As an update, this reporter went to a local CVS pharmacy to get the updated version of the Covid 19 mRNA vaccine recently approved for usage by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Unfortunately, even with health insurance, the shot will not be free because the federal government has ended funding for Covid 19 vaccines,
and most of the major health insurance companies will not cover the vaccine even though it is available. The charge for the new vaccine at CVS is $200.
The reason the CVS pharmacist gave me was that my insurance company, LA Care Health Plan, has not yet updated its database to include coverage of the newest Covid 19 booster. I was informed that only Blue Shield and Medicare have updated their database to include the new booster as of today.
Unless you are insured with either of these plans, you will almost certainly have the same problem. It would be advisable to call your insurance company and
check if and when they will cover this immunization. The seasonal flu shot was covered with no problem. It is alarming that during the biggest Covid surge in two years, when the United States has the largest death toll from Covid 19 in the world, insurance would not cover this vaccine, the Covid Bridge Program has effectively ended, and the government disseminated none of this information with the release of the vaccine.
The current U.S. Covid death toll is 2.8K as of August 11, 2024.
When I spoke with a customer service representative at LA Care, they informed me that the insurance plan’s database would not be updated until September 5, when the
license
Protesters Shut Down 405 in Call for Ceasefire and End to U.S. Support for Israel’s Actions In Gaza
Nine IfNotNow Protesters Arrested During Morning Rush Hour Demonstration in West LA
American Jews and allies associated with IfNotNow LA staged a sit-in on the 405 Freeway in West Los Angeles during morning rush hour, demanding that elected officials call for a lasting ceasefire and an end to U.S. support for Israel’s actions in Gaza. The protest led to the arrest of nine demonstrators.
The sit-in, which took place on the Jewish fast day of Tisha B’Av—a day of mourning for dead civilians and the destruction of holy sites—was organized as an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people. Tisha B’Av is often considered the saddest day in the Jewish calendar.
“As millions of Angelenos and people across the country are struggling to get by, it is a crying shame that our government continues to throw away working families’ hard-earned tax dollars in order to support this genocide,” said IfNotNow organizer Leo Shaffer. He added that Vice President Kamala Harris should push for an immediate arms embargo on Israel to demonstrate her commitment to working people.
Rabbi Robin Podolsky, a member of IfNotNow, emphasized the group’s mourning on Tisha B’Av, not just for the loss of life over the past ten months but also for the fact that these actions are being carried out in the name of Jews.
Organizers acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the protest, particularly to those stuck in traffic, but stressed that U.S. taxpayer dollars are being used to fund what they described as genocide in Gaza. “To all those stuck in traffic, we sincerely apologize for the disruption to your day. We are especially sorry to the working-class people whose lives have been affected,” the group said in a statement. They argued that the greater harm to working-class people is the use of their tax money for military aid to Israel while they struggle to make ends meet.
The group also criticized Vice President Harris and other elected officials, urging them to support a ceasefire, a hostage exchange, and an arms embargo on Israel.
They condemned the influence of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) on U.S. policy, calling it a tool for ensuring unconditional support for Israel’s actions.
According to the group, over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel with U.S. support, and they argue that a majority of Americans, including Jews, support a ceasefire. They called on Democratic officials to reflect the will of their constituents, noting that 66% of Americans favor a ceasefire, though only 11% of lawmakers have spoken out in favor of one.
“The safety of Jewish people and Palestinians are intertwined,” the group said, adding that mourning Jewish and Israeli life should not mean ignoring Palestinian suffering. They argued that their commitment to fighting for the liberation of all people is rooted in the tragedies experienced by the Jewish people.
Three Suspects Threaten Brentwood Mother and Children During Break-In at Multimillion-Dollar Residence
Home Invasion Robbery Takes Place with Mother and Children in Home
Amid rising concerns in the Brentwood neighborhood about robberies and violence, a home invasion at a multimillion-dollar residence in Brentwood late night on Thursday, August 15, resulted in a huge response from local police and private
security.
The incident occurred at about 11:00 p.m. in the 12800 block of San Vicente Boulevard. Three suspects broke into the home through a rear glass door, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. A woman and her young children were inside at the time.
The suspects, who were armed with a crowbar and dressed in masks and all-black clothing, confronted the woman in her bedroom. They allegedly threatened her and demanded property,
According to news reports, an LAPD helicopter was also observed circling overhead. No injuries were reported. The suspects remain at large, and the investigation is ongoing.
Brentwood Science Magnet Playground
Reopening Delayed to Sunday, August 25
LAUSD Resolves Staffing Issues, Adjusts Hours for Public Access on Sundays
The Brentwood Science Magnet School playground, known as Brentwood Green, officially reopened as a community park on Sunday, August 25, following an unexpected delay last weekend. The playground, scheduled to open last Sunday, faced challenges due to staffing issues, resulting in the delay.
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board Member Nick Melvoin
and his District Director and Senior Advisor Allison Holdorff Polhill worked to resolve the situation. The LAUSD office coordinating the effort issued an apology to the community, stating:
“We apologize for our inability to provide access to the community last week. We were finding it challenging to find staff to provide supervision and access. We have resolved those challenges and are happy to report
that we should not have any issues providing access for the duration of the term of the license. Enjoy!”
In response to arrival times observed last weekend, the playground hours have been adjusted to 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. You can enter through the main gate on Gretna Green Way.
Jennifer Lopez Files for Divorce from Ben Affleck, Ending Nearly Two-Year Marriage
Lopez Submits Divorce Papers Without Legal Representation, There Was No Prenup
Jennifer Lopez has officially filed for divorce from Ben Affleck, ending their nearly two-year marriage, as reported by TMZ. The singer and actress filed the paperwork on Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court without legal representation and submitted the documents “pro per,” meaning she was acting as her own legal representative. Lopez was seen at a West Hollywood Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf location this weekend.
The actress and singer listed the date of separation as April 26, 2024, confirming
rumors that the couple have been separated for some time. The couple, who eloped in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022, had a lavish second wedding in Georgia on October 20, 2022. The timing of the divorce filing on the second anniversary of that ceremony appears to be symbolic.
One of the more surprising aspects of the divorce is the lack of a prenuptial agreement. According to sources, no prenup was in place, meaning that any earnings or assets acquired during their marriage could be considered community property under California law. This is especially unexpected given that this was Lopez’s fourth marriage and Affleck’s second.
In the filing, Lopez waived her right to spousal support and requested that the court deny any support to Affleck as well. The
couple had put their shared Beverly Hills home up for sale, and Affleck, 51, has already purchased a new house in Brentwood. Lopez is reportedly searching for a new home as well.
The divorce comes after months of negotiations to reach a settlement, which have reportedly become increasingly contentious. Sources indicate that the discussions have grown so contentious that sometimes the couple is not even on speaking terms. Lopez and Affleck’s relationship has been the subject of much public attention, both during their original engagement in the early 2000s and their reunion two decades later. Despite their efforts to make their marriage work, it appears that the pressures of their personal and professional lives ultimately proved too challenging to overcome.
Chef Jackson Kalb to Rebrand Brentwood’s
Jemma di Mare as Ospi Brentwood
Popular Venice Eatery Expands to Brentwood as Kalb Shifts Focus From Seafood
Chef Jackson Kalb has decided to switch his Brentwood restaurant, Jemma di Mare, to a new location based on his popular Ospi concept. According to Eater Los Angeles, the restaurant at 11677 San
Vicente Boulevard will close on August 26 and reopen as Ospi Brentwood in the first week of September. Jemma di Mare has only been open for about a year, but Kalb decided it was time for a change.
Kalb, a Top Chef, and Santa Monicabased Melisse Restaurant alumnus, decided to make the change after noticing that only two dishes—the fritto misto and sole piccata—were consistently popular among diners. Rather than trying to continue with the seafood-based Jemme de Mare concept, Kalb chose to pivot the restaurant’s identity to align with the success of Ospi, his Venice-based eatery.
“Out of the top 20 best sellers, only two were seafood. That made me scratch my head and think, what the hell’s going on here?” Kalb told Eater Los Angeles. “I just needed to make a business decision and relaunch. I can’t have an ego anymore— it would just be damaging for everybody. People were asking for Ospi, and that’s been going great. People want what they want, so I’d rather just give it to them.”
Ospi, which opened in Venice in September 2020 during the height of the pandemic, quickly gained a loyal following and is now regarded as one of the top Italian restaurants in Los Angeles. Initially focused on Southern Italian cuisine with thin-crust Roman-
style pizza, Ospi has since expanded its offerings to include a globally infused Italian American menu.
The new Ospi Brentwood location will retain Jemma di Mare’s layout and seating, with some updates to the artwork and wall accents. The popular fritto misto dish will remain on the menu, ensuring a seamless transition for fans of Kalb’s cuisine. Memento Mori, Jackson and his wife Melissa’s hospitality group plans on opening another Ospi in Orange County this fall.
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In Loving Memory of Brentwood Glen resident, Marjorie Jean Campbell
Marjorie Jean Campbell, a loving wife and devoted mother, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on August 20, 2024. She was 98.
Born on February 1, 1926, in Parsons, Kansas, Marjorie was the beloved daughter of Marion and Ada Liston.
Marjorie was a devoted wife of 58 years to the noted professor from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Russell “Russ” Campbell. Together they raised a son and a daughter: Roger Campbell, 75, and Paula Wainright, 72.
Marjorie was the proud and active grandmother of four grandchildren, Rainbow, Jeramiah, Russell and Reny, who were the light of her life as well as one energetic great-grandson, Sagan.
Marjorie was ahead of her time as an avid sports enthusiast, playing baseball as a youngster and then tennis well into her adult years. Marjorie was the proud graduate of Dardanelle High School and then attended Baker University.
She worked as a single woman in various capacities before meeting and marrying the love of her life, Russ, when she refocused her attention to her husband’s career as well as attending to the raising of their children. Russ’s work took the family around the world from Thailand to South America, finally settling in Brentwood Glen, California.
Marjorie’s passion for learning never wavered as she was a master of solving the most sophisticated and complicated crossword puzzles of the day. She would spend many a morning sitting with her son, Roger, and grandson, Jeramiah, filling in the necessary crossword puzzles with acuity and commitment. Her problemsolving skills, although understated, were well documented through the years.
However, Marjorie’s real passion was bird watching. She would spend hours with her daughter, Paula, and her beloved binoculars, calling out the names of the various winged species. Her backyard was a dream landscape for watching and listening to the unique songs and calls of her feathered friends as it was dotted with large fountains and shallow birdbaths.
Marjorie was a kind and generous woman, known for her quick wit and unwavering support for her family and friends. She would often say that family is the reason life is profoundly satisfying.
Marjorie is survived by her son and daughter, Roger and Paula; a Daughter-
in-Law, Stacy Campbell; four adult grandchildren, Rainbow, Jeramiah, Russell, Reny and Sagan, the greatgrandchild. The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude for the support and condolences they have received during this difficult time.
Marjorie Jean Campbell. 98, will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Marjorie’s legacy of love, kindness, and dedication will continue to inspire those she leaves behind.
Councilwoman Traci Park Discusses Homelessness and Public Safety at Brentwood Community Meeting
LA City Council
Member Highlights Legislative Priorities and Efforts to Combat Crime and Homelessness
Councilwoman Traci Park joined the Brentwood Community Council this week, engaging with Brentwood residents to discuss legislative priorities, the City budget, and preparations for the upcoming Olympics. The meeting also covered updates on homelessness and public safety, two critical issues for the community.
Park recently received a new assignment to the Budget Committee at LA City Hall, emphasizing the importance of hearing directly from constituents. “Hearing from residents who are experts in their neighborhoods is essential for prioritizing the issues that matter most,” she said.
During the meeting, Park outlined her office’s efforts to address homelessness in the area. She detailed ongoing initiatives to house people, connect them with services, and restore public spaces for community use. Park also highlighted a recent success:
the unanimous passage of her proposed ordinance aimed at curbing overnight camping of vans in sensitive areas. Public safety was another primary focus of the discussion. Park noted the increasing impact of crime on the city, particularly in the form of copper wire thefts that have left many street lights and other city infrastructure inoperable. The councilwoman also mentioned a concerning rise in thefts targeting fire hydrants. Despite these challenges, she pointed out that progress is being made with increased enrollment in the LAPD Academy and ongoing efforts to bolster the police force.
“It was great to be back with friends and constituents in Brentwood,” Park said, reflecting on the importance of community engagement. “We have made strides, but there is still much work to be done to ensure the safety and well-being of our neighborhoods.”
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