Palisades fire victim reflects on ‘heartbreaking’ theft as crime surges in ravaged community
Leslie McConnell, a victim of the Pacific Palisades fire, expressed her heartbreak over a recent theft at her vacant lot. Thieves cut utility wires, taking advantage of the crime surge in the area, which has left many fire victims vulnerable. Despite the minor financial impact, McConnell has taken steps to enhance security around her property, reflecting on the emotional toll of such crimes.
- ▪Leslie McConnell's home was destroyed in a fire last January, and thieves recently targeted her vacant lot.
- ▪The theft involved cutting utility wires, likely in search of valuable copper, and is part of a crime surge in the area.
- ▪McConnell has since installed security measures, including cameras and private security, to protect her property.
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Metro exclusive Palisades fire victim reflects on ‘heartbreaking’ theft as crime surges in ravaged community By Ross O'Keefe Published May 30, 2026, 12:00 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The California Post on Google A suburban mom watched in horror as motion-sensor alerts flooded her phone, each notification confirming her family’s Pacific Palisades home was going up in flames. More than a year later, after thieves cut utility wires leading to the vacant frame of her new home on Mother’s Day, Leslie McConnell now keeps watch over the lot where her house once stood, fearing criminals will strip away what little her family has left. The 42-year-old had one word for the ordeal: heartbreaking. “It’s heartbreaking,” she told The California Post.
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