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Masked burglary crews terrorizing ritzy neighborhoods show ‘they’re doing their homework,’ veteran cop warns

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A fast-moving burglary spree is unfolding across Los Angeles, with thieves targeting some of the city’s most affluent neighborhoods and striking multiple communities over the past week — even as police flood the area with patrols.

The latest incidents unfolded Wednesday night in the San Fernando Valley, where burglars hit homes in Studio City and Toluca Lake and targeted a commercial property in a separate theft that led to a police chase.

The violence escalated Thursday night when a woman in her 70s was strangled during a home invasion in the Hollywood Hills, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The suspects, described as at least two masked men, fled with cash and jewelry and remain on the run.

Those break-ins are the most recent in a pattern that began around April 10, with similar crimes reported across Sherman Oaks, Encino, North Hollywood and surrounding communities, in some cases with homes hit within minutes of each other.

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Former LAPD investigator Moses Castillo said the scope and speed of the crimes point to a broader shift in how burglars are operating.

“We used to think high-end neighborhoods were exempt from crime…that’s no longer the case,” Castillo told Fox News Digital. “You’re not safe anywhere anymore, especially in affluent areas.”

“These criminals aren’t looking at zip codes — they’re looking at opportunity.”

Castillo said the pattern suggests many of these burglars are strategic, often researching homes and victims in advance.

“They’re doing their homework — tracking patterns, watching when people are home or away,” he said.

That preparation, Castillo said, can start online.

“If you’re posting your valuables, your lifestyle…you’re making yourself a target,” Castillo warned. “If you can find your information online, so can they.”

He added that some crews use lookouts and real-time communication to move quickly and avoid police detection.

The pattern of burglaries across multiple neighborhoods may reflect how suspects adapt when enforcement intensifies.

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“These crime waves last as long as the suspects are still out there,” Castillo said. “If an area gets too hot, they just move to the next neighborhood.”

That mobility may help explain why communities across the Valley have continued to see break-ins, even as patrols increase.

For victims, the impact goes far beyond stolen property.

“People describe this as a ‘house rape’ — a complete violation of their home,” Castillo said. “It’s not just about what’s taken. It’s that someone invaded your sanctuary.”

He said many victims struggle to feel safe again after a break-in, with some choosing to leave their homes altogether.

Castillo warned the danger increases if homeowners encounter suspects during a burglary.

“If you walk in during a burglary, you can become a victim of violence,” Castillo said. “These crimes can escalate — home invasions, assaults, even kidnappings.”

He also described cases in which suspects used a ruse to get victims to open the door.

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“They’ll use a ruse… knock on the door, get you to open it and then it’s over,” he said.

The LAPD has increased patrols, deployed air support and license plate readers, and expanded coordination across units in response to the spike.

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Mayor Karen Bass said the city is taking a zero-tolerance approach.

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“The safety of every Angeleno is my number one priority,” Bass said. “The City has zero tolerance for these recent burglaries.”

But despite the increased presence, the break-ins have continued, leaving residents on edge.

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Castillo said enforcement alone will not be enough to stop the spree.

“Police can’t do it alone, it’s going to take the community,” he said. “If you see something, even if you’re not sure, call it in. That could be the break that blows the case wide open.”

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As the spree stretches across multiple communities, Castillo said homeowners should take extra precautions.

“Don’t rely solely on cameras or basic alarm systems,” he cautioned, warning that some burglars may cut power and compromise them. “Be vigilant.”

He also urged residents to be mindful of what they share publicly.

“Sometimes we are our own worst enemies,” Castillo said. “Whatever you can find about yourself online, they can too.”

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Nation’s second largest school district moves to limit kids’ screen time

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The Los Angeles Unified School District voted Tuesday to limit students’ screen time. 

The resolution to limit students’ use of laptops and tablets in class and incentivize pen-and-paper assignments passed 6-0, and mandates that the district to develop a screen time policy for each grade and subject, bar students in first grade and younger from using devices, evaluate education technology contracts, and make clear the steps parents need to take in order to opt their child out of using technology at school, NBC News reported.  

“The Los Angeles Unified Board of Education approved a resolution today to limit student screen time across the district,” the district said in a press release. “Building on last year’s cell phone ban, the proposal calls for comprehensive, developmentally appropriate guardrails on instructional technology for all grade levels, including key provisions to eliminate use of student devices for youngest learners, prohibit student-led use of YouTube and other video streaming platforms, and review and present a public report of all existing classroom technology contracts.” 

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The resolution came from Board Member Nick Melvoin, a Democrat who has served on the board since 2017. 

“During COVID, student devices became a necessary lifeline, and seemingly overnight, screen time limits were shelved to ensure every child had access to the technology they needed to continue learning and stay connected with their teachers and peers. Our charge now is to recalibrate, evaluate the role of educational technology in the classroom, and balance access to that technology with the kinds of instruction and interaction we know help students thrive,” Melvoin in the press release.

It was co-sponsored by Board Members Karla Griego, Tanya Ortiz Franklin, Kelly Gonez, Board Vice President Rocío Rivas, and Student Board Member Jerry Yang. 

Ortiz Franklin said in the press release that when the district is “intentional about how our students engage with technology, we invest in their focus, their health, and our future.” 

Ortiz Franklin added in the press release that “providing guidelines for our students affords our youngest learners the space for human interaction and play to develop foundational cognitive and social skills and gives our oldest learners opportunities for meaningful connection and collaboration within their community. I am proud to co-sponsor this resolution that balances how and when we use technology in our classrooms, preparing our students to be Ready for the World.”

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In the press release, Griego called the move “long overdue.” She added, “As a cosponsor, I am honored to cosponsor this resolution that establishes clear, developmentally appropriate guidelines around screen time and the use of single-use devices in our schools to ensure a balanced approach to technology that helps our students learn, grow and thrive.” 

Gonez, another board member, said that, “Technology can be a powerful tool, but too much screen time has real harmful effects on our students.”

She added that the resolution “will ensure we are prioritizing important skills and learning experiences for students, while protecting their childhoods and well-being by setting research-based screen time limits.”

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In the press release, acting Superintendent Andrés E. Chait called the move necessary for the current technology climate. 

“As we continue to navigate the evolving role of technology in education, our priority remains ensuring it is used in ways that support high-quality instruction, student engagement, and overall well-being,” Chait said. “Technology is an important tool that can expand access and enhance learning, but it is most effective when used purposefully and guided by educators.”

According to an August report from Ballotpedia, 26 states have enacted laws or policies requiring local school boards to restrict or prohibit cellphone use in K-12 classrooms, with 22 adopted in 2025 alone.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Los Angeles Unified School District for comment. 

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FLASHBACK: Obama tried to make Trump a punchline at 2011 dinner before rise stunned Washington

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President Donald Trump will attend the White House Correspondents‘ Dinner on Saturday, marking his first appearance at the annual event as commander in chief after skipping it throughout his first term.

The decision puts Trump back at a Washington ritual long tied to his fraught relationship with the press and political establishment. His return also revives memories of the 2011 dinner, when then-President Barack Obama and comedian Seth Meyers mocked him from the dais at a moment that later became a widely discussed part of Trump’s political story.

“Donald Trump is here tonight,” Obama said at the 2011 dinner. “Now, I know he’s taken some flak lately, but no one is happier, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than The Donald.”

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“And that’s because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter — like, did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?” he continued. Trump had publicly called for the release of Obama’s birth certificate, which the State of Hawaii did release that year. 

The exchange underscored longstanding tensions between Trump and the Washington establishment that predated his entry into politics

Speculation mounted that the jabs helped fuel Trump’s eventual decision to launch a presidential run, culminating in a stunning upset victory in 2016. Trump had denied that Obama’s 2011 jokes prompted his candidacy, telling The Washington Post in 2016 that “there are many reasons I’m running, but that’s not one of them.” 

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“Donald Trump has been saying that he will run for president as a Republican, which is surprising since I just assumed he’d be running as a joke,” comedian Seth Meyers added when he took the podium that night.

Trump told Fox News’ “The Five” earlier this year he was treated “rudely and crudely” during the dinner, which he said influenced his decision not to attend while he was first in office.

“The press was so nasty, I just – so I didn’t do it,” said Trump.

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He once again denied it was the 2011 dinner that sparked his interest in running for office.

“There is this theory: I was there while Barack Hussein Obama was speaking, and he was hitting me a little bit. Actually, it was very nice, and I was actually – I loved it. I really loved it,” said Trump.

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Trump announced he would attend this year’s dinner as part of America’s 250th birthday celebration. The first lady will join him.

“The White House Correspondents Association very nicely asked the President to join them at their annual dinner this year as the Honoree, which he gladly accepted,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle previously told Fox News Digital.

Trump did not attend during his first term due to a contentious relationship with the media at the height of coverage of the Russia investigation.

The banquet was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic and revived in 2022 during President Biden’s administration. Trump also did not attend last year.

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Mom who got 2-day sentence after killing baby while high arrested for endangering someone else’s child

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A Pennsylvania mother who was previously convicted of accidentally killing her infant son while she was high was arrested again for allegedly endangering another child.

Pennsylvania prosecutors charged 32-year-old Arissa Ward with felony child endangerment and misdemeanor recklessly endangering another person after a 2-year-old she was supposed to be babysitting was found wandering in the middle of the road with no shoes or socks on, a spokesperson for Pennsylvania State Police told Fox News Digital.

At approximately 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, the Pennsylvania State Police, Troop J, York Station was advised a young child was found in the middle of the road on W Main St. in Windsor Borough, York County,” the spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

“Investigation determined, the young child’s baby sitter, Arissa Ward, had fallen asleep and the child had gotten out of the house. The child was located in the middle of the road by a passerby who contacted PSP. The child was found with no shoes on,” the spokesman concluded.

According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law & Crime, the boy “was cold to the touch due to the temperature.”

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The boy’s mother dropped him off to Ward around 6:30 a.m. the morning of the incident.

The woman “stated the front door was unlocked, which is not common,” according to the affidavit. “She walked in the residence and took [the boy] upstairs to Ward’s bedroom, which the door was open. [The mother] stated Ward was asleep and she had to wake her up,” the affidavit continued.

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The mother then placed her son in the bed with Ward, after which Ward immediately fell asleep and had to be woken up again, Law & Crime reported, citing court documents. She told law enforcement that she did not close the bedroom door behind her, but did close the front door when she left.

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Ward texted the mother shortly after 9 a.m.

“Good morning babe!! Whatcha doin. B—- where is you,” Ward texted.

“Hey girl!!! im at work lol. i was a little late today hope i dont get into trouble lol,” the mom replied.

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About 30 minutes later, Ward texted “Where’s [the boy]???” according to Law & Crime.

The boy’s mother then started calling Ward, but got her voicemail all five times she called, according to court documents. Police called the mom at 10 a.m. letting her know they had her son.

When police knocked on Ward’s door, she allegedly answered it saying “I’m babysitting and I just woke up. What is going on?” The cops asked if she was “missing a kid,” and she replied, “Yes, yes, but he is not mine,” the affidavit said, according to Law & Crime.

“[The boy’s mom] dropped him off with me this morning,” she allegedly continued. “He’s a little boy, he’s 2… with blonde curly hair.”

When troopers found the boy, they contacted Children and Youth Services, according to Law & Crime. The group told them to “check Arissa Ward.” Ward had previously spent two days in jail after suffocating her 2-month-old son while drunk and high.

In December 2016, after a night of drinking with her partner, Ward fell asleep on the couch next to her baby. The child died of asphyxiation and had marijuana in his system.

Pleading no-contest to a manslaughter charge, Ward was supposed to receive a three-month minimum sentence. However, Judge William T. Tully instead sentenced her to only two days and then house arrest, citing her living daughter, who was 3 years old at the time, according to Penn Live Patriot News.

“I’m going to give you the opportunity to do a little bit of penance. This will be a chance to prove yourself,” Tully told Ward. “You have got to put yourself back together. Your daughter doesn’t need a semi-mom. She needs a whole mom.”

Ward posted bail for the recent child endangerment case and is due back at court on May 5, Law & Crime reported.

Fox News Digital reached out to Windsor Police Department and York County Court for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

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