Valley Glen neighbors install cameras for crime. But why are warning signs ruffling feathers?

People living in the Valley Glen neighborhood of Los Angeles have built a private security system after a wave of crime in area, but the signage that warns of the surveillance cameras may need to be taken down.

Some residents told NBC Los Angeles Thursday that auto and home break-ins have been a big problem for the neighborhood, so they raised money to buy cameras that read car license plates. The cameras were installed in different parts of the neighborhood starting in early 2025.

They also placed warning signs in their yards and under street signs, alerting people that cameras are in use 24/7.

The neighbors said their grassroots system is working as crime is down in the area without a single home break-in recently.

But representatives from the Los Angeles City Council’s second district that represents Valley Glen paid a visit to one of the organizers last week, saying the city had determined that some of the signs needed to come down because they are placed on public property.

“(The signs) are a deterrent. I tell anybody, ‘You roll in here, we’ve got you on camera. Get out,'” Debbie Stopeck, a neighbor, said, adding the signs and cameras aim to protect the neighborhood.

Councilmember Adrin Nazarian said while he loves the “proactive community engagement,” the signs need to be placed in accordance with city regulations.

“We’ll be working with the Department of Transportation and community members to make sure that signage is displayed in the manner most appropriate to ensure public safety,” Nazarian told NBC Los Angeles in a statement.