LAPD has arrested a 30-year-old man in connection with a string of residential burglaries after they connected him to a phone number that was used to call the homes before the break-ins.

LAPD investigators are alleging that this suspect broke into 18 homes in the San Fernando Valley, calling them first to make sure that no one was home.  In fact, investigators say that they initially started investigating this suspect and found that his phone number was the same one used in calling a previously burglarized home several times prior to the break-in.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office has charged this suspect with 18 counts of residential burglary and he is being held on $500,000 bail.

If you have been charged with residential burglary in Los Angeles, it is crucial that you consult an attorney prior to going to court.  Residential burglary is also known as first degree burglary in California and can bring up to 6 years in state prison and a strike under California’s Three Strikes Law.  Residential burglary is also the most serious type of burglary in that prosecutors and the law favors punishment for someone breaking into someone’s home or residence and committing a felony therein.

However, there are many defenses to residential burglary that may be relevant to your case and need to be communicated effectively to a prosecutor.  Examples may include mistaken identity, lack of intent to commit a felony prior to entering or even that the items you took actually belonged to you.

If you have been charged with burglary in Los Angeles County, contact attorney Ross Erlich for a free in-person case consultation.  Our office is available by phone 24/7 and can assist in securing bail bonds.

Attorney Ross Erlich handles all felony and misdemeanor matters in Los Angeles, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Downtown LA, Long Beach, East Los Angeles, Culver City and the San Fernando Valley.