Three masked intruders were caught on camera breaking into a Hollywood Hills home late Thursday night while, unbeknownst to them, a family was inside, relaxing for the night.
The thieves broke in after bypassing the front gate, which displayed a bold warning: “This house is protected by God and a gun. Screw around and you’ll meet both.”
The break-in happened around 10:30 p.m. on May 29. Surveillance footage shows the thieves – wearing masks, gloves and hoodies – scaling a tall wall to reach the front entrance.
They used a crowbar to smash through a glass panel and unlock the door from the inside.
What the suspects didn’t realize was that several residents were inside the house at the time in the downstairs rooms. The calm was abruptly shattered when the intruders made noise upstairs, prompting a near-confrontation.
Security footage captured loud clamor – sounding comparable to gunfire – as the suspects ran off. However, despite the message on the sign, the homeowners did not fire any weapons during the incident.
The residents had just returned from a trip to Mexico and deliberately waited to post vacation photos on social media. Still, they became targets.
“We heard loud footsteps upstairs… and then we heard even more shuffling,” said Chantel, one of the victims. She declined to share her last name. Chantel, an entrepreneur and artist, lives in the home with her family.
“How frightening was that for you?” KTLA’s Chris Wolfe asked.
“Very frightening,” Chantel responded. “I felt very violated, and then after watching the footage and seeing it was three of them – I was more shook at the thought that if they came here when we weren’t here, and my 20-year-old daughter was here alone – that’s what shook me up the most.”
Her boyfriend’s voice may have been what ultimately scared the intruders away. After a 911 call, LAPD officers arrived within minutes.
“I am just so glad that officers got here as quickly as they did,” said Alexis, a friend who was also at the scene.
The suspects dropped their crowbar while fleeing. It was recovered by police and is now in evidence custody. Detectives are canvassing the neighborhood for additional security footage.
Anyone with information about the crime is urged to contact the Los Angeles Police Department.
