Neighbor Opens Fire on San Fernando Valley Burglars with Pepperball Gun
In a bold act of vigilance, a Tarzana resident thwarted an attempted burglary in the San Fernando Valley on Tuesday night. The incident, which occurred around 10:30 p.m. in the 5400 block of Aura Avenue, saw a quick-thinking neighbor use a pepperball gun to deter a group of would-be thieves.
Julian Harper-Smith, a resident of the neighborhood for over 30 years, was alerted to the suspicious activity by his sophisticated home surveillance system. A silver SUV had pulled up in front of a neighbor's home, from which three suspects wearing hoodies emerged. Harper-Smith recounted the events, stating, “It was just three guys hopping a neighbor’s wall … I grabbed my paintball gun/pepperball gun and I brought a flashlight just hoping that would scare them off.”
The suspects were captured on camera attempting to enter the home. However, their efforts were thwarted when Harper-Smith intervened. The video footage shows the suspects hastily retreating from the property and jumping back into their getaway vehicle, with the flashes of Harper-Smith's flashlight illuminating the scene.
“So I just put my flashlight down and just gave them a couple paintball shots to the back of the car just to tell them to ‘stay away,’” Harper-Smith explained. His decisive action ensured that the burglars left empty-handed, and the homeowners were unharmed.
This incident comes amid a surge in break-ins across the San Fernando Valley, particularly in areas like Encino. In response to the rising crime rate, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has intensified patrols, including the deployment of mounted officers in the neighborhood.
Investigators have yet to determine if any of the recent burglaries are linked. The LAPD continues to urge residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to authorities.
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