Over the past several months, there have been numerous burglaries to homes which were being fumigated.
Because these homes are left vacant when tented, they provide an easy target for criminals willing to risk injury or death from inhaling toxic fumes.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies have been working diligently to stop these crimes.
Shortly after midnight, Thursday morning, Aug. 23, Carson Sheriff's Station deputies were conducting surveillance in the 19000 block of Dunbrooke Avenue, Carson, when they spotted a suspicious vehicle pass by a tented home several times.
The deputies watched as the vehicle parked, its occupants looked around, and then drove away. A short time later, the deputies watched as two males jumped over a fence and entered the backyard of the home.
Knowing the home’s fumigation tent was still secured and that no one should be at the home, the deputies believed a home burglary was in progress. They requested assistance from other patrol units and a Sheriff’s helicopter.
As deputies began to surround the residence, the suspects noticed them and ran from the home. One surrendered immediately, and the other was captured a short time later with the assistance of the Sheriff’s helicopter.
Once both suspects were arrested, deputies further checked the home and found that the fumigation tent had been partially removed, allowing access to an open bedroom window.
Both suspects, Kameron Howard, 21, of Compton, who is currently on active parole for burglary, and Johnny Newman, 23, of Encino, were booked at Carson Sheriff's Station and charged with residential burglary.
Here are some facts that can also be answered abotu the fumigation procedures:
* California Department of Consumer Affairs Structural Pest Control Board- Questions and Answers Regarding Fumigation For Pest Control
http://www.pestboard.ca.gov/forms/brochures/fumigate.pdf
"Q. WHO CAN ENTER A STRUCTURE WHILE IT IS BEING FUMIGATED?
A. Chemicals used in fumigation are lethal! Exposure to fumigants in a structure being fumigated, even for a few minutes, will result in death or serious injury. Absolutely NO ONE can enter a structure until it has been certified safe for reentry by the licensee in charge of the fumigation. Warning signs are posted in plainly visible locations on or in the immediate vicinity of all entrances.
To ensure that even the owner or tenant cannot reenter a structure, the company is required to put a secondary lock on all outside doors that only the company can open. These locks can be any device such as padlock, keyway lock or deadbolts from the inside which will prevent opening by anyone but the licensee in charge."
When your home is being fumigated, be sure to speak with neighbors and ask them to watch your home. Join Neighborhood Watch ! (http://file.lacounty.gov/lasd/cms1_145190.pdf)
Also, contact your local sheriff's station and ask for patrol checks, also known as vacation checks. Read more about vacation checks and Sheriff's Volunteers on Patrol here:
http://shq.lasdnews.net/content/uoa/SHQ/SHQ-DP-Sheriff'sVolunteerson.aspx
