Recently in Burglaries Category

A 46-year-old man accused of stealing $100,000 from the Union Rescue Mission, then setting a fire to cover up the crime, pleaded, six days into his on-going jury trial.

Deputy District Attorney Sabrina Corsa said Alvin Synder pleaded no contest to one count each of first-degree residential burglary, grand theft of personal property, arson of property and attempt to burn a structure.

The defendant additionally admitted the allegation that a person was present in the dwelling at the time of the burglary and that the dollar-amount of property taken exceeded $65,000. Synder also admitted one prior strike conviction and four prison priors.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Monica Bachner ordered the defendant to return for sentencing on June 30, 2009, in Department 129 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center. The defendant remains in custody and is being held without bail.

Synder pleaded open to the court, meaning the plea agreement was not part of a negotiated settlement with the District Attorney's Office. The defendant faces a maximum prison term of 21 years.

The charges stem from an incident on December 2, 2007, during which Synder broke into a safe in the cashier's office of the Union Rescue Mission and took $100,000 in cash and jewelry. A fire was set in a backroom of the office to destroy evidence, according to authorities. The defendant was arrested the next day.

The Union Rescue Mission - a homeless shelter, temporary residence and church for hundreds of individuals and families - houses a safe where clients deposit money and jewelry for safekeeping. The Union Rescue Mission accommodates up to 800 people on a given night.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is asking for the public's help for any information leading to the arrest of a crew of burglary suspects targeting businesses in Koreatown.

On various dates, several commercial business burglaries have occurred between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., when the businesses are closed.

Suspects have been captured on surveillance cameras in possession of burglary tools and wearing hooded sweatshirts, scarves, gloves and headgear designed to cover up their faces. Suspects are able to gain entry by using pry tools and various entry points such as rear and front doors, windows and from the roof. These suspects are in the business of searching for basic, hand-carried valuables such as cash or jewelry.

Note: The LAPD would like encourage all business owners to review their security plans and determine the best methods of operation for their own business in order to minimize the chances of overnight burglaries.

Anyone with information regarding this series of business burglaries or other crimes is encouraged to contact Olympic Burglary Detective Adrian Chin at (213) 382-9440. During off-hours, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247). Callers may also text "Crimes" with a cell phone or log on to www.lapdonline.org and click on Web tips. When using a cell phone, all messages should begin with "LAPD." Tipsters may remain anonymous.