VANDALISM HITS 19 BUSINESSES

Ventura Blvd.: Windows smashed, other damage inflicted by BB gun shooter

Dozens of businesses on Ventura Boulevard in the west San Fernando Valley had windows shot out or were peppered with apparent BB gun rounds early Wednesday, leaving their owners to clean up the damage as police tried to track down a culprit.

The Los Angeles Police Department said at least 19 businesses were reported to have been damaged around 4 a.m.

By midmorning, LAPD detectives still were investigating. Officer Jeff Lee, a department spokesman, said seven businesses were damaged in LAPD’s Topanga Division, which covers Woodland Hills. The other 12 businesses were in the West Valley Division covering Tarzana and Encino.

Officials did not give an exact block number for the businesses damaged, but they stretched from at least the 19800 block of Ventura west for about 2 miles. And detectives still were trying to determine if even more businesses were damaged.

“We’re combing the neighborhoods for witnesses and video,” Lee said.

He noted that damage was reported early in the morning and that by midmorning Wednesday many of the area’s businesses wouldn’t be open for several more hours.

“We could still have some still showing up to their businesses and getting to work who don’t know they were damaged,” Lee said. “So that number could increase.”

Earlier in the day, an LAPD spokeswoman said someone used a BB gun

to shoot at the businesses as he drove by on Ventura. But officials later said they weren’t sure what weapon was used.

Bill Dellara, who owns Excitement, a lingerie and novelty store in Tarzana, was cleaning up around the front entrance of his gaudy black and pink store Wednesday morning. Glass was shattered on the ground in front of his window displays featuring scantily clad mannequins.

Other businesses in the area also were damaged — small holes from what appeared to be BBs could be seen in nearby store windows on both sides of Ventura Boulevard.

Dellara said Wednesday wasn’t the first time businesses on this stretch of Ventura had been shot at before. “We get hit all the time,” he said.

Businesses in this area also had windows shot at last year. He said replacing his windows previously cost $800 to $1,500.

PHOTOS BY SARAH REINGEWIRTZ – STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Carlos Castillo cleans up broken glass at Excitement in Woodland Hills after dozens of businesses had their windows shot out early Wednesday morning along Ventura Boulevard from Encino to Woodland Hills on Wednesday.

A broken window at Whole Foods Market in Tarzana. It was one of at least 19 businesses vandalized by an apparent BB gun shooter early Wednesday morning. Detectives are still trying to determine if other businesses were damaged.