Cars

Ben Godar After auto thefts jumped 11% during 2002, Burbank Police are crediting a variety of tactics with sparking a 21% drop in such crimes during the first quarter of 2003. The reductions come at a time when car thefts continue to increase throughout the San Fernando Valley. During the first quarter of 2003, LAPD officials said auto thefts in North Hollywood were up 8.8% over the previous year. To combat the spike in car theft, Lt. Kevin Kraft said police made some increases in deployments, but also concentrated officers in areas where thefts were occurring.

Ben Godar Several cars parked on the street outside NBC studios were broken into recently, and police say the culprits are an organized group of thieves who target tourists. Burbank Police Sgt. Scott Wilson said a loosely affiliated network in Orange County has targeted rental cars parked around the studio for the past several years. Tourists frequent NBC for studio tours and tapings of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." The thieves, who also strike at places like the Los Angeles Zoo and Universal Studios, take whatever valuables they find in the car and sell them in Mexico, he said.

Ben Godar Two men who Burbank Police believe were responsible for about 25 car burglaries near NBC Studios were arrested this week. Manuel Elias Guzman, a 32-year-old Inglewood man, and Esteban Aguilar, a 29-year-old Los Angeles man, were arrested during a Tuesday afternoon surveillance in which officers witnessed them breaking into cars near the corner of Olive Avenue and California Street, police said. During a subsequent search of Guzman's apartment, police said they found about $100,000 in stolen property, including about 30 laptop computers.

Road'ers display hot rods at Bob's GLENDALE -- The Road'ers Car Club will have a Cruise In from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Bob's Big Boy, 1507 W. Glenoaks Blvd. in Glendale. Trophies will be awarded to those showing their beautiful muscle cars, classic cars or hot rods, and there will be music provided by D.J. Leroy. There is no entrance fee. The event is made for the whole family. For information, call Jim Thomas at 842-0325. Barbershop singers perfecting harmony HOLLYWOOD HILLS -- The Crescenta Valley Chapter of the society for preservation of barbershop singing will entertain at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Hall of Liberty at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Hollywood Hills.

Gary Moskowitz The mechanics at the 76 Station at the intersection of Hollywood Way and Alameda Street aren't getting much work done on the weekends lately. They've been a little distracted. The gas station's parking lot is the site of weekend car washes this summer, where members of the all-female theater group Dollface & Co. dress up like 1940s pin-up girls and hand wash cars to the background sound of swing music. Most of the group's clientele is men, who stand off to the side, fidgeting with their key chains as the women scrub down and hose off their cars.

Reader says no to renaming airport after Bob Hope I feel that all the respect, admiration, praise and honors for Bob Hope are justified, and naming streets, parks, schools and post offices are appropriate tributes. These are facilities used by locals who will use them knowing their location. However, renaming the airport is going too far. How many people east of the Mississippi can tell you the John Wayne Airport is in Orange County? What will the three-letter airport designator be?

Laura Sturza HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- John Dincher is up in arms. His business, West Coast Auto Resale, is on a lot adjacent to a vacant, city-owned parcel that he said is at times a "dust bowl" and at others, steeped in mud. "This year it was much worse," Dincher said in December. "I had to call several times and plead with the city to cut the weeds down." He went on to say that when the city cut the weeds, it immediately rented the area to a studio.

Donna Bertuccelli Yes Bob, Corvettes o7 aref7 special. There's no mistake about that. I used to ride around in one in the early '60s. In fact, it was the very one that Bob Kramer bought and wrote about in his "Traveling Full Circle" column (Dec. 4). It belonged to my boyfriend at the time, John Shields. Bob's comments on John brought back many memories, not only for me, but I'm sure for many old timers. He and his automotive shop on Riverside Drive and Rose Street were very familiar to many Burbankers -- especially the young auto enthusiasts.

Karen Hubbard The Burbank Road Kings car club will hold its Santa Anita Charity Show 2000 on Sunday, October 15 at Santa Anita Race Track in conjunction with Burbank's Day at the Races. This fun fund-raising event will feature more than 500 hot rods, street rods, muscle cars, stock cars, modified cars and restored classics. The cars will be displayed in the beautiful infield area where food, beverages, a children's playground and live music will be available.

Regarding Steve Urbanovich's letter ("Streets are made for cars, not bicycles," Sept. 18), finally, someone has the courage and insight to connect the dots between bicycle riders and the tragedy of 9/11. Pack your bags, Mr. Urbanovich. You're going to Congress! Charles Carney Burbank Streets used to be for horses I read Steve Urbanovich's Mailbag letter in Saturday's Leader regarding bike lanes (Streets are made for cars, not bicycles," Sept.