Thieves pull gun on person in Woodland Hills
Cops today were looking for the culprits behind what appears to be a distraction theft in Woodland Hills. A woman rang the doorbell Wednesday about 11 a.m. at a house in the 5500 block of Valerie Avenue. When the victim opened the door, the woman said she was from an unknown company and then her partner pulled a pistol out of his pants and pointed it at the victim.
Frightened, the victim slammed the door and ran out back to her neighbor’s house. And the thieves took off.
A few months back, I reported about a string of similar crimes - distraction thefts - occurring in the San Fernando Valley. Groups of two or three people pose as workers for the Department of Water and Power or act like they are neighbors who lost their cat and lure the victims to the backyard while their accomplices go through the house, stealing jewelry, cash, purses, whatever valuables they can find. Don't know if this one is connected yet, but my hunch is that it is not because in most cases the thieves don't pull guns. Most cases are not violent. Regardless, folks should be vigilant about not opening doors for anyone, unless you are expecting someone, of course.