Homeowner opens fire on burglary suspects in Studio City, forcing them to flee, LAPD says

STUDIO CITY, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A homeowner opened fire on burglary suspects Tuesday morning in Studio City, prompting the alleged intruders to flee, authorities said.

The confrontation occurred at 4:40 a.m. at a multi-level house in the 11600 block of Laurelcrest Drive, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department said. The home is in a hilltop neighborhood between Ventura and Laurel Canyon boulevards.

Whether any of the alleged intruders were struck by gunfire was unclear. Described only as two males in gray hoodies, they fled the scene in a black Chevy Traverse SUV, according to LAPD.

Police said the homeowner was not injured, but they couldn't confirm if anything was actually stolen. The search continues for the black Chevy Traverse SUV and the two suspects.

Neighbors alarmed

Woken by the sound of a rumbling engine around 4 a.m., Diana, who lives across the street, decided to investigate. From her balcony, she watched a Black Chevy.

Diana said the car's lights kept turning on and off. She flashed a light at the vehicle and took a photo before waking up her husband to go check around the house.

"He came back out, got very close to them, took a picture of their plate, the back end of the car, and still, that didn't seem to change anything," she said.

When her husband came back, shots rang out.

"And within minutes, we heard a gun go off, and there was clearly people running in the shrubs, we could hear. It was like they were running into the vegetation. Got into the car, car door slam, the alarm went off on the house at that point, and the car just sped off," Diana said.

Diana said she called 911 and was able to identify the vehicle involved, but could not describe the suspects.

She said even after she and her husband made their presence known, the suspects didn't leave. Diana said she was surprised by how bold the burglars were.

"My husband is not a small guy. He's a big guy. The fact that we kind of hazed them a little bit, in a way, that that did not deter them. That they didn't leave the scene, or at least there was a driver in the car," she said.

Some residents said the incident underscores growing concerns about neighborhood crime.

"This city has gotten so dangerous, as you know, if you live here. Crime is out of control," neighbor Dave White said.

Others said they were surprised by the boldness of the suspects, especially with people awake in nearby homes.

Neighbor Jaimie Joseph said that the situation highlights the need for more community involvement.

"It could happen wherever you move, so it really just makes me think of, like, you know, what's happening? Maybe there needs to be more that we do like in the neighborhood watch," she said.

Despite living in what she described as a peaceful area, Diana said the incident highlights a vulnerability.

"Quiet neighborhood, but sometimes that is not a good thing," she said.