A man who was arrested after breaking into a home in Beverlywood earlier this week is connected to about 25 burglaries in the city of Los Angeles, including 14 in the San Fernando Valley, police said Thursday.
The suspect was identified as 22-year-old Los Angeles resident Kevin Diaz, whom the Los Angeles Police Department says belongs to a South American theft group.
He was arrested following a hot prowl burglary in the 1500 block of Rexford Drive on Monday, the LAPD said. Police say the resident was home at the time and locked himself inside a bathroom where he called 911.
A stranger forced his way into a family’s home overnight in Beverlywood. Lauren Coronado reports for the NBC4 News at 6 a.m. on May 5, 2026.
When officers arrived, they found the front door open and saw a man wearing a black hoodie and pants inside. The suspect took off but was found down the street in a neighbor’s backyard, police said.
Diaz was taken into custody following a short pursuit and booked on a first-degree residential burglary charge, according to the department. His bail was set at $50,000.
Police did not provide the specific incidents Diaz is believed to be linked to but said the crimes happened in multiple divisions, including West LA, Olympics, Southwest, Devonshire, Mission and West Valley.
Last month, LAPD sources told NBC4 Investigates the recent series of break-ins and burglaries in the Valley appears to be connected to organized groups behind crimes as far south as San Diego and as far north as the Bay Area. The sources said international burglary crews were becoming more active again with highly organized heists.
The investigation is ongoing.