Suspect arrested in Beverly Hills burglaries, trespassing incidents

The Beverly Hills Police Department continues to investigate a series of break-ins on Laurel Way and North Crescent Drive. (photo by Joey Waldinger)

The Beverly Hills Police Department has arrested a male suspect in connection with a series of burglaries and trespassing incidents on Laurel Way and North Crescent Drive. Police said Christopher Turner, 35, was arrested on the afternoon of Jan. 18 outside a residence on Laurel Way as detectives were conducting a follow-up investigation. An unidentified female companion of Turner was detained for questioning. Turner was booked into the BHPD jail and is facing felony burglary charges.

“I would like to thank our incredible Beverly Hills Police Department for working around the clock and being the best of the best,” Beverly Hills Mayor Lili Bosse said.

“I am thankful to our residents for their patience and our department’s tireless efforts to bring this suspect into custody,” BHPD Chief Mark G. Stainbrook said. “Crime of any kind will never be tolerated in Beverly Hills.”

BHPD Capt. Giovanni Trejo said that Turner had been wearing a stolen ghillie suit – a kind of camouflage often used by military personnel and hunters – to avoid detection by police. Investigations are ongoing, and Turner may face additional charges, he added.

The BHPD had been investigating two burglaries and two trespassing incidents on Laurel Way and North Crescent Drive on Jan. 14, 15 and 17, Trejo said.

At approximately 1:22 p.m. on Jan. 14, police received a report of a burglary at an unoccupied residence in the 1000 block of Laurel Way, Trejo said. The suspect fled before police arrived, and the officers could not determine if there was any loss of property, Trejo added.

Police later posted a photo of a suspect on social media, and asked residents to help identify him. The photo was taken from a video sent to the BHPD from a resident, Trejo added. Authorities released another photo after the arrest showing the suspect wearing camouflaged clothing.

At approximately 7:40 a.m. on Jan. 15, BHPD responded to another burglary in the 1100 block of Laurel Way, where police saw a suspect after arriving on scene, Trejo said.

“Upon making contact with the suspect, the suspect fled on foot,” he added. “A police containment was set up but the suspect avoided arrest.”

Later that afternoon, at approximately 3:20 p.m., the department received a trespassing report in the 1000 block of North Crescent Drive, Trejo said. A private security guard called the BHPD to report an individual hiding in bushes and jumping over a wall into a yard at a residence, he added.

BHPD officers set up a containment area where the suspect was last seen and enlisted a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department helicopter and ground units to assist in the search, Trejo said.

“The search turned out to be negative; we didn’t find anybody,” he added.

By approximately 6:40 p.m., police had searched all houses on the block, and did not find any evidence that the suspect had entered any of the homes, according to the BHPD.

On Jan. 17, police responded to a trespassing call in the 1000 block of Laurel Way at approximately 9:25 p.m., according to the BHPD. A heavy police presence descended on the area, as a BHPD drone and an LASD helicopter assisted in the search for a suspect, police said.

The officers conducted a thorough search of the exterior and interior of the residence, and did not locate any suspects, according to a BHPD bulletin. The BHPD is continuing to investigate, Trejo said.