Police are warning that opportunistic criminals may target homes and businesses in West Hollywood after a devastating water main break flooded the city this week.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said it is sending additional officers from its West Hollywood station to prevent potential burglars from breaking into vacant properties in the area.
“If you come to the area to commit crimes, you will get caught and go to jail, and deputies are out looking for issues,” Sgt. Murray with the LA County Sheriff’s Department told NBC4.
Pole also warned that scammers may try to prey on vulnerable victims of the flooding, including two truck drivers attempting to remove cars without the owners’ permission.
Officials told residents to look out for “chaser” tow trucks that show up and tie submerged cars without their owners’ permission. Fraudsters may also offer suspicious cash-only deals, promising to expedite repair work on homes or businesses in exchange.
The LASD is conducting burglary suppression, parking enforcement, and surveillance in the area.
Deputies will check IDs of residents looking to get into the area of the water main break-affected streets.
The water main break in West Hollywood Thursday morning devastated local residents and caused widespread damage in the area of the iconic Sunset Boulevard and Holloway Drive.
The break caused property damage to businesses, smashed cars together, and even caused two men to fall into a sinkhole created by the flooding.
The blowout is the worst LA has seen in years and unleashed a staggering 17 million gallons of water.
Mayor Karen Bass said in a press conference that the “main challenge” associated with the main break is to morning commuters. She said the pipes were more than 100 years old.
West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman said at the same presser that “all of our residents, to our knowledge, are safe.”
Crews were seen repairing the water main break on Friday.
The burst pipe, which was constructed in 1916, worsened concerns about the city’s aging infrastructure.
The issue is infuriating the LA Council responsible for passing legislation to help fix the city’s problems.
“For 50 years we’ve effectively been kicking the can down the road on maintenance, deferring and deferring until everything is breaking,” Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky told The California Post.
