On Wednesday, April 5, 2017, LAPD Valley Bureau Commander Jorge Rodriguez, center, speaks during a press conference at L.A. City Hall about a $50,000 reward being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction in residential burglaries, particularly knock-knock burglaries that have recently plagued the San Fernando Valley. Rodriguez is flanked by LAPD Lt. Tim Torsney of the Devonshire Division, left, and L.A. Councilman Mitch Englander, right. Photo by Elizabeth Chou, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG

Los Angeles City Councilman Mitchell Englander is hoping to provide extra incentive to pawnbrokers and others who may be able to help authorities bring down knock-knockburglary rings that target upscale homes in the San Fernando Valley and other parts of the city.

Englander on Wednesday introduced a motion, seconded by Councilman Bob Blumenfield, calling for a $50,000 reward to be offered for information to help authorities identify, arrest and convict people responsible for this series of knock-knock burglaries.

Such burglaries have been a growing epidemic throughout the San Fernando Valley and throughout the city of Los Angeles, Englander said during a news conference Wednesday, prior to making the motion.

The proposed reward is aimed at the public, particularly pawnshop owners and employees, who are the first people who are going to know, particularly when they get repeat offenders who are bringing in stolen merchandise, Englander said.

These burglaries are not victimless crimes, he said, adding that some of the stolen jewelry include family heirlooms that cannot be replaced.

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While the motion was introduced amid a spate of knock-knock style burglaries, Englander noted the reward is actually being offered to anyone with a tip about any type of residential burglary, no matter the method, as it is sometimes difficult to know what method a burglar used.

The motion, which is expected to be voted on next week, needs City Council approval before the reward can be offered.

In February, the Los Angeles Police Department launched a San Fernando Valley Knock Knock Burglary Task Force to address the problem.

News of the task force came amid a rash of high profile break-ins, including at the Tarzana home of Los Angeles Lakers player Nick Young and the Sherman Oaks residence of Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig.

According to the LAPD, the suspects work in teams of three or four. One person knocks on the door of a home and if no one answers, they will signal to the others, who try to enter from a side or rear entrance of the home.

LAPD officials said Wednesday the alleged rings appear to be based mostly in South Los Angeles, with the burglars using more sophisticated methods than in the past.

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The burglars have been operating in the Valley for some time, and they have really taken the game to the next level from the beginning of this year, Valley Bureau Commander Jorge Rodriguez said.

The burglars are monitoring when people typically leave their homes, as well as driving cars and wearing clothes that help them blend into the neighborhood, according to LAPD officials.

Among the hardest hit areas are Porter Ranch, Chatsworth and Granada Hills, Devonshire Division Lt. Tim Torsney said.

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The Devonshire Division, which patrols those communities, has recorded a spike in burglaries that goes against the trend in most of the Valley. As of March 25, 336 burglaries were reported, up from 249 burglaries from the same time last year, for the area alone, according to figures released by the LAPD.

Out of the additional 87 burglaries this year, the majority appear to have been committed using knock-knock methods, Devonshire Division Capt. Kathleen Burns said.

LAPD figures also show burglaries in the Van Nuys Division are up 31 percent from last year.

Torsney noted police have made some inroads on knock-knock burglary crimes.

Within the last two months weve made significant arrests of multiple crews with no affiliation with one another, which has resulted in a significant decrease over the last two weeks in the area, Torsney said.

Even with the improvements, Englander said the job is not done.

The arrests are happening, but the crimes are not stopping, he said.

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LA councilman targets 'knock-knock' burglars with $50,000 reward - LA Daily News