Encino Residents Call for Action After Tragic Murders and Rash of Break-Ins

ENCINO, CA — The Encino community is reeling after a series of home invasions and a tragic double homicide that has left residents shaken and demanding swift action.

On Monday night, more than 500 concerned residents packed into the Encino Community Center to voice their fears and frustrations to local officials. The gathering came just days after the murder of television executive Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas Deluca, who were fatally shot in their home during a break-in on July 10. Authorities believe the couple returned home and interrupted the burglary in progress, leading to a violent confrontation during which the suspect allegedly used the couple’s own firearm to kill them. Their bodies were discovered on July 14.

One resident’s comment captured the community’s outrage: “Why does it have to take a death in order for us to have a meeting like this?”

The town hall-style meeting was attended by Los Angeles Police Department Captain Michael Bland and newly appointed Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman. Captain Bland acknowledged residents’ concerns and stated that, although year-over-year violent crime statistics show a decline, there has been a noticeable uptick in residential break-ins. LAPD has responded by increasing overnight patrols between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

District Attorney Hochman emphasized a renewed commitment to holding offenders accountable. “My goal is to deter criminals from committing the crimes in the first place,” he said. “Because to deter criminals, [they] have to appreciate that there is some level of certainty that they will be arrested and brought to justice if they commit the crime.”

Despite these assurances, the crime wave continued the very night of the meeting. Two more break-ins were reported, including one on Hayvenhurst Avenue, where a family was believed to be home as suspects entered through the garage. A second burglary was reported on Enfield Avenue; authorities have not confirmed whether anything was stolen. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in either case.

In total, Encino has seen at least five residential break-ins over the past twelve days, fueling concerns about public safety and the adequacy of law enforcement response in one of Los Angeles’ most affluent neighborhoods.

Residents are calling for not only more visible policing, but long-term solutions that can prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

Source: KTLA