Operation Blue Knights – Ongoing Partnership with LAPD North Hollywood Area and Burbank PD

Los Angeles: Although there have been significant reductions in Violent crime and Property crimes within the boundaries of LAPD North Hollywood Area, North Hollywood continues struggle when it comes to Auto related property crimes, specifically BTFV. North Hollywood Area leads the City in the amount of property related crime. In fact, in 2013, North Hollywood Area experienced 2199 BTFV crimes within its 23 square miles. That equates to an average of 183 BTFV crimes per month, 45 BTFV crimes per week or 6.5 per day. These are huge numbers and it is our intent to reduce the number of these crimes.    

North Hollywood’s eastern neighbor, the City of Burbank, has also experienced an upsurge in property crime, specifically BFMVs in the areas bordering North Hollywood. Both agencies opine that many of the suspects involved in these crimes operate along both sides of the city borders. The objective of Operation Blue Knights is to reduce the number of BFMVs in the area through community education, cooperation, intelligence gathering and joint enforcement.  

While working in partnership, LAPD and Burbank Police Department have identified several problematic areas along the border that facilitate property crimes. Today, around 6 p.m., Operations Blue Knights will begin.

The first phase of the operation will be public awareness and education. A “Lock It, Hide It, Keep It” flyer campaign will commence around North Hollywood’s major transportation hub, the Red and Orange lines and will continue in other areas including pockets of Ventura Boulevard.  Community partners and businesses will be asked to display signs educating the public on the need to hide valuables in locked vehicles. In addition, North Hollywood will debut a new YouTube public information video, narrated by the North Hollywood Area Commanding Officer, demonstrating to the pubic just how vulnerable parked vehicles are, when valuables are left in plain sight.  The intent of the operation is to educate the public, and curtail the complacency that occurs when valuables are left in view inside parked vehicles. The video can be found on the following link: http://vimeo.com/94241360,

The second phase of the operation will be joint enforcement task force operation with LAPD and Burbank PD working together on a common problem.  The areas along the border will blanketed by officers from both agencies conducting crime suppression with a zero tolerance enforcement strategy.  

Information on BFMV suspects and other property related crimes may be submitted anonymously to North Hollywood Auto Detectives at 818-623-4085.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to www.lapdonline.org, and click on "Anonymous Web Tips.”