Staff

The latest in a series of follow home robberies has prompted police to issue a community alert warning the residents of Los Angeles and surrounding cities to be aware of an ongoing crime trend of “follow-home robberies”.

In early 2021, the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division began tracking the trend of suspects targeting victims, following them, and then robbing them as they were arriving home or to their business. 

Most of the victims were being followed from such upscale areas like Melrose Avenue, the Jewelry District of Los Angeles, high-end restaurants, and nightclubs from Hollywood and the  Wilshire district. Victims were also being targeted based on the jewelry they were wearing and/or the car they were driving. One victim was shot to death outside of a shoe store on Melrose. 

Over 110 such incidents have been tracked with 107 of those incidents involving Black male suspects. At least six different LA street gangs have also been identified. 

High profile victims include “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” cast member Dorit Kemsley and more recently, actor and BET host Terrence J (Jenkins). 

Jenkins was returning to his Sherman Oaks home from Hollywood when an SUV filled with masked men attempted to block him onto his driveway and one of the men ordered him out of his vehicle at gunpoint. Instead, Jenkins was able to flee in his vehicle and was subsequently followed and shot at by one of the men but was unharmed.

“Thank you, God!” Jenkins later posted to media after the incident went viral. “Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Blessed and happy to be here.”

Robbery Homicide detectives are seeking the public’s help in providing any information that would lead to the identification and arrest of suspects responsible for follow home robberies.

The LAPD has also issued the following tips:

• Be aware of your surroundings for anything unusual or out of the ordinary before exiting your car, walking out of a restaurant, stores, malls, or clubs,

• Be cautious of displaying high value property in public such as purses, watches and jewelry.

• Record and report suspicious activity to the police (write down suspicious suspect/vehicle descriptions).

• If you are driving and believe you are being followed, dial 911. If possible, drive to the nearest police station.

• After a robbery, immediately call the police and write down everything you can remember about the crime, suspects and suspect vehicle.

•Do not chase or follow the robbery suspect. Leave the job of catching the suspects to the police.