New security cameras are showing up in Altadena as law enforcement tries to curb the rising rates of residential burglary in the fire-ravaged community. But some folks are skeptical that this will do the trick. From Jan. 1 to April 15, there was a whopping 450% increase in reported residential burglaries in the Altadena area compared to the same period in 2024, according to data from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Thieves have been targeting vulnerable homes in the deserted community, causing havoc by tearing up copper pipes, breaking windows and doors, and making off with appliances, jewelry, power tools, instruments, and even an Emmy award.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department recently announced that deputies are rolling out enhanced security camera systems in the Eaton fire area to crack down on theft and discourage criminal activity. Acting captain of the Altadena Sheriff’s Station, Ethan Marquez, stated, “Security cameras are super effective in slashing property crimes and helping with successful prosecutions. Our main aim is to shield the community, and these systems help us respond quicker and with more info when crimes happen.”
The cameras will keep an eye on busy spots and provide video evidence that can be used to nail the thieves, according to the Sheriff’s Department. It’s not clear how many cameras will be set up in the community. Some residents were pretty stoked about the idea of more surveillance in their neighborhoods, while others weren’t so sure about how much the cameras would actually reduce crime. A few even suggested having National Guard-staffed checkpoints in the area, similar to what’s in place in Pacific Palisades.
In Pacific Palisades, the National Guard is still manning around six checkpoints that only allow residents and approved contractors in. However, in Altadena, where there are more entry and exit points due to its urban density, the National Guard stopped operating traffic checkpoints on Jan. 21. Although they were reassigned to key intersections to help deter crime, they stopped operations in Altadena last week because there wasn’t a need for active traffic control anymore, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
Over 140 residential burglaries were reported in the Altadena area from January to mid-April this year, with some homes being hit multiple times. In contrast, Pacific Palisades hasn’t seen a significant uptick in crime. While 23 burglaries were reported from January to March this year in the Palisades, compared to 20 burglaries during the same period last year, according to data from the Los Angeles Police Department.
It looks like securing Altadena might be more challenging, but some residents wish the National Guard had stayed. The Sheriff’s Department requested to bring the National Guard back to Altadena, but the California Office of Emergency Management turned down the request. Instead, they offered more California Highway Patrol officers to help out. While the National Guard can assist with traffic control and disaster response, they can’t act as peace officers, so they can’t carry out policing tasks.
Jenna Morris, an Altadena resident whose home has been burglarized three times, thinks the cameras are a positive step, but they don’t guarantee safety. Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents Altadena, believes that the security cameras will be a crucial tool for law enforcement to respond swiftly and effectively in protecting residents and their property.
Madalyn Majors, one of the few Altadena residents who has returned to the neighborhood, welcomes the security cameras but acknowledges that there may still be surveillance gaps in the community. She feels hopeful that sheriff’s officials are keeping an eye on the situation and are ready to take more drastic measures if needed in the future after seeing the impact of security cameras.
Despite being grateful to be back home, Majors still feels on edge after dark. She has taken precautions by installing security cameras and Starlink satellite internet to safeguard her home since WiFi is still down in the area. Elena Amador-French, another Altadena resident, mentioned that many folks have already installed security cameras, but that hasn’t deterred criminals from stealing items from homes.
Sheriff’s officials are urging residents and business owners with video evidence of crimes captured on their personal security cameras to reach out to the Altadena Sheriff’s Station. Before launching the new security cameras, the Altadena Sheriff’s Station had already implemented several measures to combat the surge in crime. They ramped up the number of deputies on patrol, conducted targeted operations with undercover deputies, and introduced the Altadena Home Check Program to regularly check empty properties.
Deputies have conducted over 14,000 checks on approximately 600 properties that signed up for the program. If residents want to participate, they can shoot an email to AltadenaHomeCheck@lasd.org with their name, address, and cellphone number.
Overall, it seems like Altadena is trying different strategies to tackle the rise in residential burglaries, but residents remain uncertain about how effective these measures will be in the long run. It’s a challenging situation, and the community is looking towards law enforcement for solutions.
