December 2024 Lake LA WATCH meeting report

Lake Los Angeles – On Tuesday evening, December 17, 2024, community members met with Lake Los Angeles Resident Deputy Gilberto Borruel for discussion on several topics.

Thirteen people attended and were able to speak directly to Deputy Borruel during and after the close of the meeting. The meeting ran 30 minutes overtime, so everyone was able to discuss both common issues and personal requests for advice and assistance.

Borruel opened the meeting with statistics and explained some of the related scenarios for some. The statistics for November 2024 compared to November 2023 and totals are on the attached graphic of Part 1 Crime Categories.

As was to be expected, total year to date Grand Theft Auto (GTA) was 142 vehicles stolen out of Lake Los Angeles. Second to GTA in numbers is probably mail theft. Borruel cited in Lancaster in 2 days, 28 cars were stolen mostly Kia and Hyundai models. He said most of these thefts are stealing for transportation, ditching the cars when they get to their destination, having used the cars to get to the point where they committed their other intended crimes.

Borruel spoke on the enforcement of laws and how old cases are being opened and people will be prosecuted under the leadership of newly elected Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman serving the County since December 3, 2024. Cases such as unlicensed drivers and hundreds of others which were not prosecuted under the ousted DA Gascon will be prosecuted. Borruel cited in Lancaster in 2 days, 28 cars were stolen.

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Be watchful of cars in your neighborhood that obviously do not belong there. “If I get a call on an abandoned car and it is a stolen, I can tow it. These cars are used for burglaries and other crimes and the owner’s name is on them, the thieves being able to run amok without detection.

“As for the murders, one has been solved, the others are still under investigation. These homicides are contained incidents. We have 3 active 187 investigations going.

“We broke open a huge chop shop operation in the area of 240th Street East where we found tractors, RV’s, cars, trucks, all kinds of vehicles. That was the night the power was cut off. The tow truck got caught in overhead wires, creating a power outage and traffic hazard for the CHP and my car was surrounded by downed live wires.

“The copper thefts operation produced 7 people arrested, 6 of whom are being prosecuted. The theft of catalytic converters is about over. They are identifiable now and there are so many flooding the market, the don’t bring any money anymore.

Borruel advised to not leave gifts in the car, get your mail every day to avoid mail theft which is on the uptick with the holidays, winter break is coming and so is more crime. Be watchful of your loved ones who live alone during the holidays when depression can set in and let us know if you need a welfare check for someone.

Erika Schwedt reported on the illegal mulch disaster and 23 producing companies are facing a lawsuit under violations of several county, state and Federal laws. These are Super Fund sites. The fines need to be increased exponentially. When the fee per ton is $154, these trucks are dumping as much as 30 tons, the fee = $4,620. They pay landowners a pittance of that fee or buy the land themselves and dump. The water source contamination will take decades to overcome, if it can ever be corrected. The aquifers are not being charged as fast as they are being pumped. Water that is thousands of years old is being pumped. Advise: FILTER YOUR WATER. Maybe 3-4 times. The LASD COPS Team is focusing on this as criminal activity.

Schwerdt said, “I will be looking for a coalition of people willing to take this to Sacramento.”

Borruel is planning to have 8 WATCH meetings per year due to his workload increasing and scheduling changing. Which months will be holding WATCH meeting will be announced.

By Shirley Harriman