By Mary O’KEEFE

Los Angeles Police Department is continuing its search for victims of the so-called “Knock-Knock” burglaries.

Over 3,000 items have been recovered by LAPD from a Beverly Hills home. They have developed a website that has photos of all of the recovered items. The department is encouraging those who may have been victims of a burglary to review the website for their property.

The burglaries are thought to have been committed throughout Southern California including Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Several burglaries in the La Crescenta, La Cañada and Glendale area may have been victims of the “Knock-Knock” crew, said Sgt. Debra Herman of Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station.

LAPD can trace the “Knock-Knock” burglaries back to 2000. The suspects can also be traced most often to Crip gang members from Los Angeles mid-city area, according to LAPD Det. William Dunn.

Dunn described how these types of burglary crews operate.

“They work three to four in a crew,” Dunn stated in an email interview with CVW. “They switch out crew members, so rarely do you find the same three to four hitting together again … both male and female.”

They apparently re-rent cars that are rented by others in their neighborhood who have no criminal record and good credit, and they hit higher-end homes.

“[They] don’t have a home targeted beforehand, they just cruise upscale neighborhoods. One or two go to the front door and knock. If no one is home, those two go to the back and break in while the others act as look-outs and monitor police scanners,” Dunn said.

They generally enter bedrooms looking for jewelry and other small items they can quickly sell. Usually they are not armed but will pepper spray dogs and they will run if confronted. If they get arrested, older members in the gang bail them out fairly quickly.

Since the “Knock-Knock” crews have been operating for about 12 years the suspects arrested are simply replaced by other gang members.

Both Herman and Dunn advise community members to contact law enforcement when they see suspicious behavior in the area.

“Watch out for your neighbors,” Dunn said. “If you see something suspicious, call the [sheriffs] or police.”

For those who think they may be victims of the “Knock-Knock” burglaries visit http://www.lapdonline.org/west_valley_community_police_station. Below the photos of two LAPD captains is a story on “Recovered Burglary Items: Large Jewelry Seizure Related to the Knock-Knock Burglary Investigation.” And then, “Click here to see photos.” If residents recognize their items, they are asked to fill out a jewelry affidavit.