Simi Valley Homeowner Tightens Security After String Of Neighborhood Break-Ins

SIMI VALLEY (CBSLA.com) — The owner of a Simi Valley home is beefing up security after his family became the latest victims in a string of break-ins.

The homeowner, who declined to give his name, told CBS2's Jeff Nguyen that his 15-year-old daughter was home alone Sunday when an intruder broke into their residence.

The teen, he says, managed to call a relative who ran over and scared off the intruders after they tore through the family's home.

"She hid in a bathroom and locked the door," he said. "They made their way through every room. Pulled out every drawer. Opened every cabinet."

Police say there were two burglaries and an attempted break-in Sunday afternoon within a 1-mile radius of the Indian Hills neighborhood.

The man says he's adding motion detectors, glass sensors and cameras to his property, insisting his family hasn't been able to sleep since the break-in.

"Family is everything," he said.

With summer in full swing, authorities are reminding people not to announce trips out of town on social media, potentially making their homes more vulnerable.

"Burglars will come to the front door and they'll knock on the door, and when there's no answer, they'll go around to the rear of the residence and attempt to make entry," Simi Valley police Cmdr. David Livingstone said.

That's what happened at the Indian Hills home, where a board now replaces what used to be glass.

Police believe at least two of last weekend's cases are related. They say a man suspected in those cases in his early to mid-20s and 6 feet tall with a medium build.

Two other people during the break-in were spotted outside in a dark Nissan sedan, which that may have been the getaway car, authorities said.