Homes emptied, crime soared: Residential burglary up nearly 450% in fire-ravaged Altadena

In the wake of the devastating Eaton fire, Altadena has been hit with a wave of residential burglary as thieves target abandoned properties, sending anxiety surging through the traumatized community. Thieves have been breaking into homes, stealing appliances, ripping up copper pipes and taking melted silver from the ashes. In Pacific Palisades, resident-only checkpoints remain in place, and crime is no longer surging there. This discrepancy in burn scar security has left some Altadena homeowners feeling frustrated and abandoned.