Detectives are investigating a second burglary in La Crescenta that appears to be related to a burglary that occurred on Oct. 7 in the 4600 block of Lowell Avenue.

On Wednesday at about noon in the 3800 block of El Moreno Street, a woman walked out of her front door and was approached by a man that was walking away from a newer model, white pickup truck. The man asked the woman if she lived at the residence; she stated she did. The man then told her he was working on a neighbor’s property that backs up to her property.

The story he told was that he was clearing trees and debris from the neighbor’s yard and asked the resident if she could take him to the back of her property so he could show her where he would be working.

The woman agreed and accompanied the man to her backyard through a side gate. The man indicated where he would be working and that three of his workers would complete the job. The woman was in the backyard with the man for about 10 to 15 minutes as he spoke to someone in a foreign language on a handheld radio.

The woman had to leave and asked the man for his business card, which he didn’t have. He told her to go to the front of her home and he would have one of his workers bring her a card.

The woman re-entered her home through the rear sliding glass door and noticed items had been moved and her safe was lying by the front door. The woman opened the front door and both the man and pickup were gone.

Several drawers in the woman’s home had been ransacked and cash had been stolen. The woman’s son was home at the time inside his bedroom with the door closed.

The man is described as Caucasian or of Middle Eastern descent with dark hair in his late 30s, between 5’7″ and 5’9″ tall and weighing about 200 pounds. At the time of the incident he was wearing pants and a dark long sleeve T-shirt.

This is similar to a burglary that occurred on Oct. 7 about 10 a.m. in the 4600 block of Lowell Avenue. A resident reported that he answered a knock on the door to find a man who told him that he had been hired by a neighbor on Franklin Street to trim trees on the border of the resident’s property. The man asked the resident if he could show him the backyard to make certain none of the cut tree branches had fallen on his property.

The resident agreed and walked the man to the backyard. The resident noticed a newer model, full size white pickup truck parked on Lowell Avenue with two men inside the cab.

As the resident walked the suspect to the backyard, the man began talking on a small handheld radio in a foreign language. The resident’s wife locked the front door and walked out to the backyard and joined the conversation. At this point the man distracted the victims by asking them to move to the side of the home so they could get a better look at the trees. After a short discussion, the suspect returned to his vehicle and left the area.

As the residents entered they home they discovered that suspect/suspects entered the rear sliding glass doors of their home and rummaged through drawers in the master bedroom and they found jewelry missing.

The man was described as Caucasian, 45 year old, 5’7″ tall and weighing 250 pounds. At the time of the incident the man was wearing a white T-shirt and pants.

Anyone with information relating to this incident is encouraged to contact the Glendale Police Dept. at (818) 548-4911. Callers can remain anonymous by calling 1-800-222-8477.

Residents should be suspicious of anyone who comes to their door and solicits or asks to enter their property for a specific reason. Ask for identification and immediately call the Glendale Police Dept. at (818) 548-4911 or the CV Sheriff’s Dept. at (818) 248-3464. The community is asked to record details of what they observe (license plates, car and suspect descriptions etc.) and to report those details to law enforcement.

Home Burglary Prevention Information

1  Always keep all doors, windows, and garages locked whether you are home or not.

2  Install an alarm system.

3  Check screens on windows and doors for cuts, openings, slits, and holes. Ensure that the screen is secure and without damage.

4  Install interior light timers and exterior motion sensor lights to give the appearance of occupancy even when you are not home.

5  Keep your landscape, including all bushes and trees, trimmed to avoid potential hiding places for invaders.

6  Keep blocking devices, such as metal bars or track blockers on all sliding glass doors.

7  Use crime prevention or alarm system decals on windows that are easily accessible.

8  Never leave packages or other deliveries sitting at your front door. When you are away for a length of time, have a neighbor collect your mail and newspaper to avoid the appearance of vacancy.

9  Call a family meeting to discuss home safety and security and alert your neighbors if you see suspicious activity.

10  Never open the door for a stranger, and always ask for a proof of identification if they claim to be a delivery person, repairs man, etc., before opening the door.

11  Photocopy all-important documents and keep the copies in a safety deposit box.

12  Always remember to stay aware of your surroundings.