LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Detectives were searching today for a 44-year-old man suspected of breaking into homes in Sherman Oaks and West Los Angeles while the residents were away at funerals.
Brett Patrick Rogers was identified as the funeral day burglar by Los Angeles police at a news conference in Van Nuys Thursday. A felony warrant has been issued for his arrest.
The first burglary took place on March 7 in West Los Angeles, according to LAPD Detective Marc Diamond. The second break-in happened in the 4500 block of Nagle Avenue in Sherman Oaks about 2:10 p.m. on March 11. In both cases the residents were attending funerals when the burglaries occurred.
At the Sherman Oaks burglary, Rogers allegedly parked his white, four- door Mercedes Benz outside the home, according to Diamond. The Mercedes reportedly had no front license plate. It also had a sunroof, tinted windows and chrome rims.
After Rogers allegedly went to the front door of the home and got no response, the doorbell camera was activated, police said. Rogers then allegedly kicked open the garage door and went into the attached garage. But an alarm sounded and the would-be burglar fled in his car.
Rogers may be staying in motels or hotels in Orange and Huntington Beach and has relatives in Riverside and Lake Elsinore, police said. He may also be implicated in recent burglaries in Glendale and Lakewood. Those residents were burgled while away at funerals.
Rogers is white, between 25 and 35 years old, 5 feet 11 and between 170 and 180 pounds. He has dirty blond hair and was last seen wearing a black T- shirt, black jeans and black Nike tennis shoes, police said.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts was asked to call Diamond at (818) 374-0029 or Detective Krauss at (818) 374-0031. Tipsters can also call the LAPD's 24-hour tipline at (877) 527-3247 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222- TIPS.