LOS ANGELES, CA – Five men are in custody in connection with a string of home burglaries in Tarzana and Woodland Hills in February and are also suspected of burglarizing homes in Downey, the Los Angeles Police Department announced Tuesday.
The LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division said detectives first identified and arrested two men, then arrested three more as the investigation continued. Police said the suspects forced their way into the homes by smashing rear sliding glass doors, ransacked the residences and took jewelry, designer purses, glasses and clothing.
Bail for the five men ranges from $50,000 to $165,000, according to the department. Search and arrest warrants turned up handheld radios, masks, gloves, Wi-Fi jammers, two vehicles, weapons and ammunition.
Arrests came in two stages
Robbery-Homicide Division detectives began investigating after the burglaries in the Tarzana and Woodland Hills area in February 2026. They first identified and arrested Manuel Nava and Michael Lewis in connection with those break-ins.
Further investigation led detectives to identify and arrest Brett Bailey, Elijah Smith and Tonice Davis, according to the LAPD. The department did not say on what dates the arrests were made.
Suspects and bail amounts
Nava, 21, of Hawthorne, was arrested on suspicion of burglary, and his bail was set at $165,000. Lewis, 22, of Inglewood, was also arrested on suspicion of burglary, with bail set at $150,000.
Bailey, 18, of Los Angeles, was arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary, with bail set at $50,000. Smith, 18, of Los Angeles, was arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary, and his bail was set at $90,000.
Davis, 32, of Los Angeles, was arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary, with bail set at $90,000.
Rear glass doors smashed, homes ransacked
Police said the suspects allegedly entered the homes by breaking open rear sliding glass doors. Once inside, they ransacked the residences, according to the LAPD.
The items taken included jewelry, designer purses, glasses and clothing. The department did not release a total value of the property taken.
Radios, jammers and weapons recovered
When detectives served search and arrest warrants, they recovered handheld radios, masks, gloves and Wi-Fi jammers. They also seized two vehicles, weapons and ammunition that police believe are connected to the crimes.
The department did not say where each item was found or which suspect it was linked to.
Downey burglaries linked to four suspects
Police said further investigation linked Nava, Bailey, Smith and Davis to residential burglaries in Downey. Investigators also believe the suspects may be responsible for additional burglaries that were never reported, and the LAPD released the men’s booking photographs to help identify more victims.
Burglary trends in the San Fernando Valley
Tarzana and Woodland Hills are in the San Fernando Valley, where the Office of Mayor Karen Bass has published an announcement reporting a 43% drop in burglaries in the Valley and a 27% drop citywide since the previous August. The announcement says the LAPD’s Operations-Valley Bureau used extra patrols, mobile license plate readers and air support along Ventura Boulevard in response to a string of burglaries.
At a May 12 news conference at the Olympic Community Police Station, Bass said, “We are acting strategically and aggressively to stop organized burglary crews from targeting Angelenos.” LAPD Deputy Chief Gerald Woodyard said a 30% decrease in burglaries in 2026 compared with the previous year “reflects the effectiveness of our proactive enforcement and prevention strategies.” Those remarks came months before the arrests announced Tuesday and were not a reaction to them.
Home security guidance from the LAPD
The LAPD’s burglary prevention page lists home-security measures that include quality deadbolt locks on exterior doors and windows and lighting the property from dusk to dawn. The page also directs anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).
Detectives ask other victims to come forward
Anyone who believes they were a victim of these burglaries, or who has information about the case, is asked to contact Robbery-Homicide Division Detectives Mrakich or Ortega at 213-486-6840 or [email protected]. Anonymous tips can be given at 800-222-8477.
An arrest is not a conviction, and the allegations remain subject to the criminal court process. The LAPD’s announcement did not include court dates or the charges that prosecutors may file, and the investigation into possible additional burglaries remains open.
