Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Report: $16,000 Contractor Equipment Theft Reported in Altadena Fire Rebuild Zone

Thieves stole $16,000 worth of equipment from contractors rebuilding an Altadena home damaged in the Eaton Fire, according to CBS Los Angeles.

The theft occurred at the Altadena residence of longtime community member Jim Osterling, whose property is located about half a mile from where the Eaton Fire ignited in Eaton Canyon.

The equipment belonged to contractors performing reconstruction work on his fire?damaged property, according to the CBS report.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Altadena Station told CBS the burglary may have been “a random crime of opportunity.”

Separately, the station also reported that Altadena recorded two residential burglary reports in December 2025, compared with 12 in December 2024.

Osterling told CBS that the theft involved more than one contractor vehicle.

“They broke into another truck right there,” he said. “That worker came out and saw them and chased them.”

He also said thieves have also targeted his neighbors’ construction sites.

Osterling condemned the thefts affecting reconstruction workers. He urged contractors to take precautions.