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By Laura Rico

Daily Bruin Contributor

A string of car break-ins at a Westwood Village parking structure has residents concerned about the lot’s security.

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating reports of vandalism and break-ins at a parking lot on 1036 Broxton Ave., but they would not say how many reports they’ve received.

The incidents started about one month ago, according to Ray Barnett, district manager of Parking Concepts Inc., which runs the lot.

“Until this ring of break-ins happened, we haven’t had any incidents reported to us since the lot opened in 1997,” Barnett said.

The LAPD staked a surveillance operation July 7 but did not catch any suspects, said Nancy Greenstein, director of community services for university police.

The UCPD is collaborating with the LAPD in its investigation, said UCPD Officer Ricardo Bolanos.

“We are making all of our resources available to the LAPD, and working with them so we can apprehend the suspect,” Bolanos said.

“The increased presence of law enforcement officials should hopefully detract the suspect,” he said.

The UCPD inaugurated its community service center July 7 in the same building that houses the parking structure.

Parking attendants and eye witnesses gave similar descriptions of a male suspect, Bolanos said. He declined to give further information.

Concerned about the break-ins, Parking Concepts Inc. recently brought in extra security guards, consisting of regular lot attendants and undercover LAPD officers, according to Barnett.

“We have added a courtesy patrol to answer questions our patrons may have,” Barnett said. “They constantly walk through the lot and work with security to see if they can catch the suspect.”

“Our staff is there to find the suspect, and the LAPD is there to catch him,” he continued.

The lot, which has an automobile entrance, is also accessible by foot at the front of the building, not far from the parking attendant’s station.

It is the only city operated parking structure in Westwood. The lot offers two hour free parking, attracting patrons and employees of surrounding businesses because it is centrally located in the village.

But for Paul Matthews, an employee at Maui Beach Cafe who had his Honda Accord broken into June 23, the lot is not so attractive anymore.

“My passenger side window was broken, and 70 CDs as well as my day planner with all of my credit cards were taken,” Matthews said.

According to Matthews, his credit card was used at a local Shell gas station. Authorities are now viewing surveillance video tapes taken at the station to identify a possible suspect.

The $1,500 in damages he incurred is enough to keep him from parking in the lot again, he said.

“I’ll never park there, especially after I was still made to pay the $5 parking fee,” Matthews said.