Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s residence was invaded in the early hours of Sunday, with officials reporting that a suspect has been arrested. Investigators stated that Bass and her family were home at the time of the invasion.
Around 6:45 a.m. on April 21st, the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a burglary report at the Getty House located in Windsor Square, the mayor’s official residence.
Deputy Mayor Zach Seidl, in a statement to FOX11, mentioned that the intruder broke into Bass’s home through a glass door, but neither Bass nor her family were harmed. The mayor expressed gratitude for the timely response of the Los Angeles Police Department in apprehending the suspect.
Authorities later identified the suspect as 29-year-old Ephraim Matthew Hunter. Police indicated that the suspect may have cut his hand while forcing entry through the door.
It is currently unclear whether this invasion was specifically targeted at Bass. Bass is expected to present the annual budget for the City of Los Angeles on the 22nd, with a focus on addressing issues such as crime.
The notorious “Proposition 47” in California has significantly contributed to the rise in crime rates. Under this law, individuals involved in theft, regardless of the frequency, are not incarcerated as long as each theft does not exceed $950. Law enforcement has been criticized for lack of action in theft cases due to this law, with many thieves being promptly released after apprehension.
On January 24th, the City of Los Angeles released crime statistics for the year 2023. Mayor Bass indicated that since the establishment of a special task force targeting retail store robberies in August of last year, there has been a 33% decrease in “smash-and-grab” incidents. However, property crimes and theft cases saw a 3.5% increase compared to 2022.