Three men suspected in a knock-knock burglary spree in and around Los Angeles were in custody Friday after being arrested in Westwood.
Detectives from a sheriff’s burglary task force saw the three suspects — identified as Los Angeles residents Andre Story, 25; Brandon Williams, 35; and Marterries Griffin, 25 — appear to commit a residential burglary about 3 p.m. on April 10 near Westwood Village, according to Deputy Edmo Luna of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
Story and Williams are documented South Los Angeles street gang members, Luna said.
“The detectives saw the suspects, who were in a black Jaguar sedan, driving slowly through neighborhoods in the West Los Angeles and Brentwood area,” Luna said. “Detectives saw two suspects run out of a yard, where a loud audible alarm was sounding and quickly walk toward the awaiting getaway vehicle.”
Sheriff’s detectives and Los Angeles Police Department patrol officers swooped in as the vehicle began to leave the area and detained all three men, Luna said.
“Stolen property, cash and burglary tools were recovered from the suspects,” according to Luna. “The recovered property was confirmed to be stolen from the residence the suspects were observed exiting.”
All three men were arrested and booked at the sheriff’s South Los Angeles Substation, Luna said.
“The suspects and their vehicle have been the subject of an ongoing residential burglary series investigation, and … detectives believe these suspects are likely connected to numerous recent Los Angeles countywide residential `knock-knock’ type burglaries.”
Such robberies involve suspects who case neighborhoods, sometimes while driving high-end vehicles to blend in, knocking doors or ringing the doorbells of a targeted residences and then burglarizing the homes if no one answers.
According to the sheriff’s department, all three suspects were booked on suspicion of residential burglary and were being held on $500,000 bail.
Prior to his arrest, Story was free on bond after being arrested on suspicion of burglary in December of 2017, Luna said.
Williams “has a significant criminal history including several convictions for residential burglary, narcotics possession and weapons violations,” according to Luna.
Griffin, also booked on suspicion of assault on a peace officer, has a criminal history that includes a residential burglary conviction two years ago, Luna said.
It’s unclear what led to him being suspected of assaulting an officer.