Latest news with #CBSNewsLosAngeles
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Fertility Clinic Bombing Suspect's Father Breaks Down in Tears: ‘He Just Changed'
The father of the man accused of setting off a bomb outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, has said he does not recognize the person accused of the attack. Richard Bartkus, who hasn't spoken to 25-year-old suspect Guy Edward Bartkus in more than a decade, gave an emotional interview to CBS News Los Angeles where he described how he remembered his son as someone who always 'tried to help people.' 'He's a good kid,' Richard Bartkus said through tears. 'After Twentynine Palms, he just changed,' he added, referring to the California city where his son lived, which is also home to a Marine base. The FBI has identified Guy Edward Bartkus as the main suspect in the blast, which occurred outside the American Reproductive Centers clinic on Saturday. The agency believes the 25-year-old died after detonating explosives in his 2010 silver Ford Fusion outside the IVF center. On Saturday, Akil Davis, head of the FBI's Los Angeles field office, said they were treating the incident as an 'intentional act of terrorism.' Davis added that online posts and other evidence suggested the suspect had 'nihilistic ideations,' and that this was a 'targeted' attack against an IVF facility. FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller also said the agency was investigating whether the suspect's alleged 'antinatalist views' were a motive behind the attack, reported NPR. Antinatalism is the belief that it is morally wrong to have children. Richard Bartkus told CBS News Los Angeles that he learned about his son's suspected death in the blast through news reports. He also recalled how, as a child, his son accidentally burned down the family home while playing with matches, and used to make 'kid things' like smoke and stink bombs. Despite this, Richard Bartkus said he never saw anything to suggest his son would one day become a suspect in a terrorist attack. 'He didn't make anything dangerous. When I say bombs, it wasn't like a real bomb,' he explained. 'It was like something you just throw on the ground and it pops.' 'I don't know what changed his mind. Maybe a girl, maybe the people he was hanging out with up there. It wasn't him. Before that, Guy was more about helping people.' California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a Saturday statement that he was 'working closely' with local and federal authorities. Attorney General Pam Bondi also said she had been briefed on the explosion, describing the attack against the fertility clinic as 'unforgivable.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Burglar posing as food delivery driver arrested in California — how to protect your home from prowlers
The rise of food delivery apps has made it so that unfamiliar cars on your block don't necessarily raise suspicions. But CBS News Los Angeles reports that some criminals are now posing as delivery drivers to scout out homes to rob. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) In April, police officers were called to the 3300 block of Balzac Street in Alhambra after getting reports of a suspicious person who seemed to be posing as a driver for Uber Eats. The "food delivery person" was asking residents if they had ordered DoorDash. "Turns out, she wasn't delivering food but rather checking if the house was vacant," said the Alhambra Police Department in an Instagram post. "We don't think she even knew which app she was pretending to work for." Ordering food delivery is a convenience many people enjoy. The problem is that because it's become such a common thing, people posing as food delivery drivers may not arouse suspicion. What happened in Alhambra, per CBS News, is that police arrested a group of three people for residential burglary. According to police, the fake delivery driver walked up to a home to see if it was vacant. Once she confirmed no one was home, she signaled to her remaining crew members to move forward with a robbery while she served as a lookout. "The suspects jumped the fence and forced entry. Just as they started grabbing stuff, they noticed APD outside and decided to play hide-and-seek," said the Alhambra Police Department on Instagram. The lookout/fake delivery driver tried to warn her crew that the police were there via text, but she got arrested. With assistance from police dogs, a perimeter was established and the remaining criminals were caught. Similar burglaries have occurred in Southern California before. In 2024, a Monrovia man was arrested for breaking into four homes in the city after posing as a delivery driver. He reportedly carried around a food bag. "Definitely a unique set of circumstances with using that delivery appearance," IPD spokesperson Kyle Oldoerp told CBS News. "It allowed him to knock on doors, look around on his phone as if he was lost. So, definitely helped him blend into the area." Read more: You're probably already overpaying for this 1 'must-have' expense — and thanks to Trump's tariffs, your monthly bill could soar even higher. Here's how 2 minutes can protect your wallet right now There were 457,558 home burglaries reported in the U.S. in 2023, according to the FBI. Residences were by far the most targeted property for this sort of crime, with the second-highest category being office buildings at 51,892 reports. It's important to take steps to protect your home — and to minimize the blow if your house does end up being targeted. To that end, one thing you can do is install a security system — ideally one with video cameras. But if you're going to install a security system, make sure it's turned on every time you leave the house. It's not a given that criminals will try to rob you at night. Sometimes, burglars intentionally try to rob homes during the day because that's when people are more likely to be out at work. Or, they may try to target your home in the evening, when people may be out to dinner. Meanwhile, it's important to do a walk-through of your home before you leave to make sure you're not giving a burglar easy access. Lock your doors and windows, and make sure sliding doors are latched. Dogs can also be a huge deterrent for home invaders. If you've been on the fence about adopting one, consider the added benefit of having a pet whose bark might scare would-be intruders away. At the same time, take steps to make your home's exterior as illuminated as possible at all times, but especially at night. Invest in automatic lighting that's triggered by motion outside of your home. An intruder may be more apt to run away if a large beam of light starts illuminating the property as they're trying to sneak in. Also, keep trees and bushes trimmed so people can't easily hide behind them. Meanwhile, it's important to take steps to protect your most valuable belongings. You could buy a safe and store things like jewelry there, but a burglar might be able to either crack it or take it with them and get into it once they're off the premises. An even better bet may be to store valuables in a safe deposit box you rent from the bank. Another strategy you could try is hiding jewelry and other valuables in random drawers of your home while filling a portable safe with items of little value, like soap or batteries. That way, if someone breaks into your home, they might see the safe, assume it's got your most prized possessions, grab it, and leave without taking anything of real value. Whether you rent your home or own it, it's important to make sure your insurance policy covers you in the event of theft as well as property damage. Read through your documents carefully and call your insurer if you have questions about your coverage. It's also a good idea to have money set aside in an emergency fund in case you're robbed and encounter unplanned expenses that your insurance company doesn't pay for or reimburse right away. For example, if your laptop is stolen and you need it in order to work, you may not get a check from your insurer for weeks. You need funds to be able to replace that device so you're not forced to go without an income. Finally, aim to maintain a home inventory of your most valued possessions so that if a burglary occurs, you'll know what's missing. You don't have to list every single bottle of shampoo or pair of socks. But items of substantial value such as jewelry, outerwear, handbags, and electronics should be included in that document. Store a copy of that inventory online so that even if your laptop is stolen, you'll have a copy. You may need to provide this information to law enforcement and your insurance company as you attempt to pick up the pieces. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
CBS News
05-05-2025
- CBS News
Jennifer Aniston was home when man rammed through gate of her Bel-Air mansion, police say
A man was arrested after he allegedly rammed through the front gate of "Friends" actress Jennifer Aniston's Bel-Air home on Monday. Police said that they were called to the 900 block of Airole Way for a burglary call, and arrived to find that the suspect had driven a car through the property's gate, Los Angeles Police Department officials told CBS News Los Angeles, who also confirmed that the home belonged to Aniston. They said that armed security at the home were holding the man at gunpoint when they arrived. The suspect, who has only been identified as a man in his 70s, was taken into custody. He was hospitalized after his arrest due to back injuries suffered in the crash, police said. Police say that Aniston was home at the time of the incident but she never came into contact with the man. It's unclear why he drove through the property's gate.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Residents of small California city were furious after fleet of about 70 RVs was illegally parked near homes
The unsuspecting residents of Wildomar watched in horror as battered luxury RVs, some covered in graffiti, began to show up. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) From January to April, roughly 70 moved into a storage lot in the small city with a rural feel in Riverside County, California. Many in the quiet community were furious. "It's heartbreaking to see our quiet little rural town turn into a dumping ground," said Debbi Renfrow, Wildomar resident, to CBS News Los Angeles. The fleet has since been towed away. The city took out a warrant since the owner of the RVs did not have a permit to store them there, reported ABC7. City officials said the vehicles violated local zoning regulations and fire codes, according to LA Post. "I have not slept properly in months, and it was like Christmas arrived this morning. My husband and I literally opened the curtains to see code enforcement here, and we were like, 'It's like Santa's arrived,'" said Wildomar resident Jessica Hume to ABC7. Hume had complained about the smell of human feces coming from the parked vehicles in an interview with KCAL News. The owner of the RVs, Jack Hong Wei Qiu, told ABC7 he moved some of them to a property in San Bernardino County over the weekend, and he's waiting to see what the cost will be to recover the ones the city towed. Qiu isn't a stranger to complaints. In fact, the Black Series trailers were also recently removed from the city of Industry by authorities after they attracted squatters. Several of the vehicles even caught fire at one point. According to NBC4, several homeless people living in the vehicles in Industry claimed they paid rent to Qiu, which he denied. The saga of these Black Series RVs doesn't start in Wildomar. Instead, they first popped onto the public's radar back in 2024. At that point, they were parked in the city of Industry, where they attracted squatters. The squatters reportedly wreaked havoc on the RVs and the surrounding neighborhood. Wildomar residents didn't want their neighborhood to experience the same issues. 'I don't want to see this turn into the city of Industry. I don't want to see people in there and I don't particularly want a fire, that's the biggest scare because we are very dry out here,' Lynne Mayes, a Wildomar resident for over 40 years, said in an interview with NBC4. 'We have one fire truck here, this is a small town.' Mayes continued, 'Just because we are wide open and rural, it's not a welcome sign.' Read more: This hedge fund legend warns US stock market will crash a stunning 80% — claims 'Armageddon' is coming. Don't believe him? He earned 4,144% during COVID. Here's 3 ways to protect yourself Although the residents of Wildomar didn't witness squatters moving into the vacant RVs, the threat of a city of Industry situation repeating itself is unnerving. When RV encampments show up in any neighborhood, the homeowners face indirect financial consequences. First off, an ongoing presence of RV squatters in a neighborhood will likely pull property values down. After all, potential homebuyers likely don't want to purchase a house near a volatile situation like a homeless encampment. Beyond falling property values, homeowners may feel the need to spend more money on security. For example, they might opt to install an alarm system or build a sturdy fence to protect their property. Additionally, homeless encampments may also lead to increased insurance premiums. After all, insurance companies price policies based on risk. Insurers might raise premiums for nearby homeowners if there is a higher risk of fire or crime in a particular area due to an encampment. Los Angeles property owners were dropped by insurance companies or saw their rates skyrocket for this reason, according to a 2019 report from NBC4. For many homeowners, an RV squatting community showing up on their doorstep could lead to serious financial consequences. Although it's difficult for individuals to protect their property from this risk, actively involving your local government could protect your entire community. If the local government has the right rules on the books and makes the effort to enforce those rules, squatters in RVs won't be allowed to wreak havoc on your neighborhood's property values. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
CBS News
29-04-2025
- General
- CBS News
How the American Legion reconnected a Vietnam veteran with his childhood friend
Standing outside of a Sacramento apartment complex, U.S. Air Force veterans Mark Rice and Don Lemmon are trying to track down a Vietnam veteran after his best friend said he went radio silent. Newbury Park resident Richard Smith contacted CBS News Los Angeles after he couldn't reach his childhood friend, Larry Samelson, who lived 300 miles away. "We've been friends for 63 years," Smith said. "I haven't been able to contact him." Their roots run deep. "We were in the same class in junior high school," Smith said. The two also attended high school together. When the Vietnam War heated up, they both enlisted together. While the Army sent Samelson to Vietnam, they rejected Smith because of his allergies and flat feet. "I was happy that they didn't take me," Smith said. Samelson returned right before the fall of Saigon. "When he got out, he was different," Smith said. The trauma of combat impacted Samelson. "He couldn't swallow," Smith said. "He was afraid. He was choking all the time." On top of the horrors of war, Samelson suffered a family tragedy. "His father and brother were killed instantly by a drunk driver," Smith said. "His mother survived. The last thing that she said when she was in the hospital was for me to take care of him." When his friend went silent, Smith remembered that decades-old promise and tried to get help. After he reached out to CBS News Los Angeles, we contacted American Legion Post 383 in Sacramento. Division commander Rice answered the call. He served in the Air Force for 25 years. Rice offered to meet with Smith via Zoom. He listened as Smith poured his heart out about Samelson's lingering battle scars and told him about the American Legion's Buddy Check program. "I hear you and I can feel you," Rice said. "Veterans didn't get a warm welcome when they returned from Vietnam ... We're going to knock on his door and see if he's OK." Within a week, Rice and fellow legionnaire Lemmon kept their promise. After exchanging niceties, Rice and Lemmon told Samelson that his friend had been looking for him. "Richard Smith? He's my best friend," Samelson said. "I don't know why Rick would not have just called me." Before long, that reconnection Smith had been waiting for became a reality. It turned out that Samelson had gotten a new phone but couldn't turn on the ringer. However, Smith also recently noticed a memory issue. "You would have ordinarily remembered, but you didn't remember," Smith said. The Buddy Check program not only reunites old friends but also connects veterans to Veterans Affairs services they've earned.
