Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Altadena Sees Sharp Drop in Burglaries, But Not Bear Sightings

Community involvement and arrests credited for crime reduction; wildlife remains active in fire-affected area

Home burglaries in Altadena have dropped significantly below pre-fire levels, with current statistics tracking below January numbers before the devastating Eaton Fire, according to local law enforcement officials.

Acting Captain Phillip R. Marquez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported the positive crime trend during a Monday night community meeting hosted by the Altadena Coalition of Neighborhood Associations.

“Our burglary stats, we’re doing really well,” Marquez said. “Our home burglary stats, we’re going to be below, if it continues, we’ll be below January, 2024 before the fires.”

The crime reduction comes as authorities have conducted multiple search warrants and made numerous arrests. Last Thursday, deputies executed search warrants at three different locations, taking several individuals into custody as part of ongoing investigations into area burglaries.

Marquez credited increased community involvement alongside law enforcement efforts for the improvement in crime statistics. The department has identified numerous suspects in the area and conducted search warrants at every single location related to the investigations.

Commercial burglaries remain relatively low, with only four reported for the month. Two of those incidents occurred on Mariposa in the downtown area, officials said.

While crime decreases, wildlife activity continues in the fire-affected community. A bear has been spotted on multiple occasions, most recently last night near Mendocino, representing the animal’s movement further south into residential areas.

“There’s a bear that we keep seeing on two different occasions,” Marquez said, adding that the animal “is traveling a little further down.”

Deputies attempt to corral the bear and scare it back north when encountered, but the animal continues moving through the area. A coyote was observed chasing the bear during the most recent sighting last night.

The community meeting, held to provide updates on various recovery efforts, included presentations from multiple agencies working in the Eaton Fire burn area. The fire destroyed thousands of structures in Altadena and surrounding areas in January.

Law enforcement officials encouraged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity as recovery efforts continue throughout the community.