Squatters Raising Hell in Beverly Grove, Part 2

Remember ten days ago, when I shared the story of destructive squatters taking over THREE apartment buildings being held empty in Beverly Grove?

We’ve had an update, courtesy of a neighbor.

Some friends of mine shared footage of the empty buildings on Instagram. A neighbor reached out. I know the neighbor’s name, but for the sake of the neighbor’s privacy, will withhold it here.

According to the neighbor:

I manage the building immediately adjacent to [redacted]. Within the squad of squatters is a female serial arsonist who, in the past six weeks, has ignited at least three fires and possibly another two. The lack of initial enforcement by the LADBS on the owner to properly secure the properties (clear out the units of squatters, board doors and windows, post LADBS “No Trespassing” sign)
means that the police are/were toothless when we call/ed them. “Unless we get permission from the owner or our supervisor, we can’t enter because the owner didn’t post the proper sign.” Not until the media began covering this issue last week Monday (June 16) did that finally change. This Tuesday (June 24) was the largest and nearest fire to our complex. Miraculously the demolition machine showed up the next day to initiate demolition of the middle property when I was told the week before by one of the workers on-site that it wouldn’t happen for
another month. Something seriously suss [raised eyebrow emoji].

(As usual, all bolding is mine.)

Have you ever called the cops about squatters, vandals, or other troublemakers at an empty property and had nothing happen? Now you know why. Most Angelenos have probably grumbled about LAPD at some point, but the law may very well be preventing them from doing their jobs in cases like this.

Will there be any consequences for the owner’s failure to post the correct signage? Probably not, and the neighbors don’t deserve any of this.