> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Burglarcaughtin theact,eludespolice - URL: https://www.smdp.com/burglarcaughtin-theact-eludespolice/ - Published: 2005-02-24T16:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T06:09:47.000Z - Author: Guest Author - Tags: Crime, Sunset Park, #archive-import *SM Police still looking for Sunset Park burglar* *By JOHN WOOD AND CAROLYN SACKARIASON Daily Press Staff Writers* SUNSET PARK — Police sealed off six residential blocks here Wednesday afternoon in search of a burglar who ran out of a home on Pine Street after a resident found him inside. There have been 20 home burglaries in the neighborhood since Dec. 4 and five attempted break-ins, according to police. At about 1:56 p.m. on Wednesday, Santa Monica Police responded to the 1300 block of Pine Street regarding a burglary that just occurred. When officers arrived, they spoke to the victim who said she walked into her hallway from a room and saw the suspect in the kitchen area. The victim ran out of the house and called police. A perimeter was set up and police searched unsuccessfully for the burglar for nearly three hours. The suspect is described as a male, unknown race or age, thin, wearing a full-length coat. Nothing was taken from the woman’s home, police said. Residents of Sunset Park were kept off their streets while police swept the neighborhood. Debbie Marjanen, who lives next door to the victim, said the woman who was burglarized lived alone but had been entertaining guests and preparing her house to rent out. Marjanen was at home when police knocked on her door and asked to search her back yard for the burglar. Despite the rash of burglaries in the neighborhood, Marjanen said she felt safe. She lives with her husband, son and her husband's parents. are shatterproof.” Another burglary happened last Thursday across the street from where the Wednesday incident occurred, according to SMPD Lt. Frank Fabrega. And on Feb. 8, a woman who lives in the 1100 block of Pine Street reported that her home had been burglarized during the late morning. The woman told police that an hour prior to realizing she had been burglarized, a man knocked on her front door. When she opened the door, the man asked if her lights were working. The victim responded in the affirmative, then closed the door and watched the man walk eastbound on Pine Street. The victim went back to watching television. About 30 minutes later, she walked into her bedroom and realized that she had been burglarized, police said. Police believe the burglar cut the victim’s window screen and entered her home. Once the burglar was inside, he entered the bedroom and removed jewelry and coins, police said. > “We’ve got bars in the door tracks,” — said Marjanen, adding the house had been burglarized years earlier. “The sliding glass doors Of the 25 burglaries or attempted break-ins in the Sunset Park neighborhood, which stretches from Lincoln Boulevard to Centinela, and Pico Boulevard to the southern city limits, nine occurred in December, 10 in January and five in February, Fabrega said. Police have not yet been able to link the burglaries to one suspect because there have been no witnesses to the crimes. All of them have occurred during the day when people typically aren’t home. The burglars have taken mostly items small enough to fit into a bag, backpack or pocket. Some of the items stolen have been a laptop computer, an I-Pod and jewelry. Police urge residents to immediately report any suspicious persons stopping or loitering in the area. They believe the suspects might be on foot. High ranking officers continue to meet with residents in the area to discuss possible leads and how they can protect themselves. "A lot of people are concerned and rightly so," Fabrega said. Among the worried residents Wednesday afternoon was 25-year resident Robby Nickel, 44, who lives with her husband and three children at the intersection of 11th and Pine streets. Nickel watched from her front yard as police roped off the streets to conduct their investigation. “We used to keep our doors unlocked all the time because we have a dog and we thought nothing could go wrong,” said Nickel, who now always keeps her doors locked and her front patio light on. Geoffrey Kyron, 49, a 40-year resident of Sunset Park, said he thought the burglar or burglars were from out of town, because the crimes were out of character for his neighborhood. “We never had a burglary around here for nearly 20 years running,” he said. “What’s going on?” Beyond beefed-up patrols, by car as well as on foot and bicycle, police are working with the neighborhood group Friends of Sunset Park to organize community watch efforts and get the word out that residents should lock doors and gates at all times; not store hidden keys outdoors; and try to keep outside lights on at night. Undercover officers also are patrolling the neighborhood. Police also are performing free security inspections of people’s homes, which can be requested at the SMPD’s community relations division (310) 458-8474, Fabrega said. If residents would like to organize a neighborhood watch with police, they are asked to call the community relations division. For update information, residents can log onto the SMPD’s Web site, santamonicapd.org. Anyone with information regarding Tuesday’s burglary is encouraged to call Detective Mike Federico at (310) 458- 8432, or the SMPD at (310) 458-8491\. Callers who wish to remain anonymous may call the We-Tip national hotline at 1- 800-78-CRIME (27463). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/022405-02_01.jpg) A Santa Monica Police Department SWAT team on Wednesday sweeps the area surrounding Pine Street and Euclid Street. (Photo: John Wood/Daily Press) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/022405-02_02.jpg) An officer on Wednesday speaks with resident Geoffrey Kyron, whose street was blocked off after a residential burglary in Sunset Park. (Photo: John Wood/Daily Press) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 24, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/022405.pdf?ref=smdp.com)