{"success":true,"data":{"id":"b81e818f-c763-4220-a2b7-3c40fdb287ab","title":"Sinister new threat in West Hollywood after water main break devastated city","summary":"Police are warning that opportunistic criminals may target homes and businesses in West Hollywood after a devastating water main break flooded the city this week.","content":"# Sinister new threat in West Hollywood after water main break devastated city\n\nPolice are warning that opportunistic criminals may target homes and businesses in West Hollywood after a [devastating water main break](https://nypost.com/2026/07/16/us-news/west-hollywood-water-main-break-floods-streets/) flooded the city this week.\n\nThe Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said it is sending additional officers from its West Hollywood station to prevent potential burglars from breaking into vacant properties in the area.\n\n“If you come to the area to commit crimes, you will get caught and go to jail, and deputies are out looking for issues,” Sgt. Murray with the LA County Sheriff’s Department [told NBC4](https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/west-hollywood-sheriff-station-water-main/3918762).\n\n“If you come to the area to commit crimes, you will get caught and go to jail, and deputies are out looking for issues,” Sgt. Murray with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department told ABC7. Anadolu via Getty Images\n\nThe LASD is conducting burglary suppression, parking enforcement, and surveillance in the area. Getty Images\n\nPole also warned that scammers may try to prey on vulnerable victims of the flooding, including two truck drivers attempting to remove cars without the owners’ permission.\n\n## Explore More\n\nOfficials told residents to look out for “chaser” tow trucks that show up and tie submerged cars without their owners’ permission. Fraudsters may also offer suspicious cash-only deals, promising to expedite repair work on homes or businesses in exchange.\n\nThe LASD is conducting burglary suppression, parking enforcement, and surveillance in the area.\n\nDeputies will check IDs of residents looking to get into the area of the water main break-affected streets.\n\nThe water main break in West Hollywood Thursday morning [devastated local residents](https://nypost.com/2026/07/16/us-news/west-hollywood-flood-victim-reveals-horror-inside-apartment-after-water-main-break/)and caused widespread damage in the area of the iconic Sunset Boulevard and Holloway Drive.\n\nDeputies will check IDs of residents looking to get into the area of the water main break-affected streets. Anadolu via Getty Images\n\nMayor Karen Bass said in a press conference that the “main challenge” associated with the main break is to morning commuters. She said the pipes were more than 100 years old. Anadolu via Getty Images\n\nThe break caused property damage to businesses, smashed cars together, and even caused two men to fall into a sinkhole created by the flooding.\n\nThe blowout is the worst LA has seen in years and unleashed a staggering 17 million gallons of water.\n\nMayor Karen Bass said in a press conference that the “main challenge” associated with the main break is to morning commuters. She said the pipes were more than 100 years old.\n\nWest Hollywood Mayor John Heilman said at the same presser that “all of our residents, to our knowledge, are safe.”\n\nBy clicking \"SIGN UP\" you agree to the [Terms of Use](https://nypost.com/terms)&[Privacy Notice](https://pagesix.com/privacy)\n\nAlready a subscriber? [Login](https://nypost.com/2026/07/18/us-news/lasd-deploys-extra-cops-to-catch-burglars-and-scammers-preying-on-water-main-break-victims/#)\n\nCrews were seen repairing the water main break on Friday.\n\nThe burst pipe, which was constructed in 1916, worsened concerns about the city’s aging infrastructure.\n\nWhat do you think?[Be the first to comment.](https://nypost.com/2026/07/18/us-news/lasd-deploys-extra-cops-to-catch-burglars-and-scammers-preying-on-water-main-break-victims/#nypost-openweb-conversation)\n\nThe issue is infuriating the LA Council responsible for passing legislation to help fix the city’s problems.\n\n“For 50 years we’ve effectively been kicking the can down the road on maintenance, deferring and deferring until everything is breaking,”[Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky told The California Post.](https://nypost.com/2026/07/17/us-news/west-hollywood-water-main-break-exposes-las-aging-infrastructure/)\n\nFiled under\n\nSPONSORED STORIES\n\n#### Trending Now  on NYPost.com\n\n*   [![Image 21: Mamdani desperately seeking legal loophole to arrest Netanyahu when Israel PM visits NYC](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/crop-40021800.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=260&h=174&crop=1)](https://nypost.com/2026/07/18/us-news/zohran-mamdani-in-talks-over-arresting-benjamin-netanyahu-when-israel-pm-visits-nyc/)This story has been shared 43,127 times.43,127   ### [Mamdani desperately seeking legal loophole to arrest Netanyahu when Israel PM visits NYC](https://nypost.com/2026/07/18/us-news/zohran-mamdani-in-talks-over-arresting-benjamin-netanyahu-when-israel-pm-visits-nyc/) \n*   [![Image 22: Bodycam shows Sunny Hostin trying to talk cops out of busting Harvard-grad son for trespassing: ‘I’m a former federal prosecutor’](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/Comp_-18.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=260&h=174&crop=1)](https://nypost.com/2026/07/17/us-news/sunny-hostin-was-on-phone-with-son-when-he-was-caught-trespassing-on-metro-north-tracks/)This story has been shared 38,295 times.38,295   ### [Bodycam shows Sunny Hostin trying to talk cops out of busting Harvard-grad son for trespassing: ‘I’m a former federal prosecutor’](https://nypost.com/2026/07/17/us-news/sunny-hostin-was-on-phone-with-son-when-he-was-caught-trespassing-on-metro-north-tracks/) \n*   [![Image 23: Tom Brady slaps ‘dork’ Logan Paul as Knicks star intervenes during wild Fanatics Fest moment](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/comp-12-2.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=260&h=174&crop=1)](https://nypost.com/2026/07/17/sports/tom-brady-slaps-dork-logan-paul-as-karl-anthony-towns-intervenes-during-wild-fanatics-fest-moment/)This story has been shared 35,695 times.35,695   ### [Tom Brady slaps ‘dork’ Logan Paul as Knicks star intervenes during wild Fanatics Fest moment](https://nypost.com/2026/07/17/sports/tom-brady-slaps-dork-logan-paul-as-karl-anthony-towns-intervenes-during-wild-fanatics-fest-moment/) \n\n## Now on Page Six\n\n \"If you come to the area to commit crimes, you will get caught and go to jail, and deputies are out looking for issues,\" Sgt. Murray with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department told ABC7. Anadolu via Getty Images\n\nYou are viewing**1** of **4**images Previous Image Next Image\n\n## More Stories\n\n### Page Six\n\n### Decider\n\n### NYPost","source_name":"New York Post","source_url":"https://nypost.com/2026/07/18/us-news/lasd-deploys-extra-cops-to-catch-burglars-and-scammers-preying-on-water-main-break-victims/","url":"https://nypost.com/2026/07/18/us-news/lasd-deploys-extra-cops-to-catch-burglars-and-scammers-preying-on-water-main-break-victims/","author":"Ross O'Keefe","author_name":"Ross O'Keefe","published_at":"2026-07-18T18:12:30.000Z","publication_date":"2026-07-18T18:12:30.000Z","image_url":"https://images.outbrainimg.com/transform/v3/eyJpdSI6IjE1YzRmOTkwNTc5NGNjNTA3NGE2YjAzY2EyYjIxMzUyOGMzNTYxMDY0Mzk2NTgwY2I0MGZiNmQzNWVkZTkwNmIiLCJ3Ijo5MCwiaCI6NjAsImQiOjEuMCwiY3MiOjAsImYiOjR9.webp","category":"world","topic":"world","tags":[],"political_bias":null,"bias_score":null,"confidence_score":null,"credibility_score":null,"factual_quality":null,"reading_time":4,"word_count":721,"view_count":0,"breaking":false,"breaking_news":false,"ai_analysis":null,"fact_check_status":"unverified","archive_status":"hot"}}