LA removes 24/7 security signs in Valley Glen neighborhood

Los Angeles city staff removed 24/7 security warning signs that residents of the Valley Glen neighborhood had posted under street signs to deter crime, CBS News Los Angeles reported. The signs were installed by neighbors to alert potential criminals that security cameras monitored the area.

Resident Debbie Stopeck told CBS LA that since the signs and cameras were put up, the neighborhood has not experienced robberies or car thefts, describing the signs as effective deterrents. The community had a similar dispute with the city earlier in the year, but the signs were then allowed to remain.

Stopeck explained that the signs were placed on city poles to maximize visibility for drivers and passersby, as signs on private property would be less noticeable. She also said that after a series of burglaries, she consulted with the Los Angeles Police Department, which suggested looking into Flock security cameras for the neighborhood.

The city of Los Angeles ended its contract with Flock over the summer, but residents continue to use the cameras on private property. Some neighbors expressed concerns about the data collected by the cameras, though supporters emphasize their role in public safety and crime prevention.

Councilmember Adrin Nazarian stated that the signs violated city regulations by being posted on public property and noted that he was not informed in advance of the removal. Stopeck said the city impounded 22 signs and questioned the harm caused by the signs, emphasizing their use in crime investigations.

The dispute highlights tensions between community efforts to enhance neighborhood security and city regulations governing public signage, with residents seeking effective deterrents to crime in Valley Glen.