Ex-tenant caused gas leak that triggered evacuation of 50 Venice homes, police say

Police said they are are searching for a person suspected of tampering with a gas line in a Venice neighborhood Monday afternoon, causing a leak that triggered the evacuation of about 50 homes.

Residents called authorities about 1:50 p.m. saying they smelled gas in the 2000 block of South Walgrove Avenue, according to the Los Angeles police and fire departments.

Hazardous-materials crews, along with utility workers, responded to the neighborhood to stop the leak. Fire officials called the evacuations “precautionary,” and said no one was injured.

By 5:50 p.m., the Southern California Gas Company pinched the leaking gas line, but needed more time to shut the valve.

Evacuees were allowed to go home shortly before 10:30 p.m. Officials said nearly 60 homes on Glencoe and Walgrove avenues from Victoria Avenue to Vienna Way were not expected to have gas restored until about 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Authorities opened an evacuation center at Penmar Recreation Center at 1341 Lake St. for those forced from their homes. Six people showed up.

It’s not clear what motivated the suspect, who police said was a former tenant, to tamper with the gas line, authorities said.

Authorities said they are also investigating “suspicious” cylinders that were spotted at the back of a home on the block.

alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @AleneTchek

UPDATES:

11 p.m.: This article was updated to reflect residents were allowed to go home.

8 p.m.: This article was updated with information about an evacuation center.

6:40 p.m.: This article was updated with information from authorities about the cause of the gas leak.