Naked Burglary Suspect Trapped In L.A. Chimney Rescued

LOS ANGELES, CA — A naked intruder managed to scare families across two cities while getting himself stuck in a Ladera Heights chimney Sunday, according to police.

Los Angeles County firefighters had to hoist him back out the top of the chimney, and then they had to negotiate a way to get him down the ladder handcuffed while wearing nothing but a towel as a crowd of neighbors gathered below.

It started at 7:40 a.m. in Culver City, where a couple chased a nude burglar from their home in the 5600 block of Canterbury Drive, according to the Culver City Police Department. According to KTLA, a woman first encountered the man in her home, and he fled after her husband confronted him.

A short time later, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department received a call from a family in nearby Ladera Heights about a naked man stuck in their chimney.

As the Los Angeles County Fire Department labored free the man, his shouts drew onlookers. In one witness’ video, he could be heard arguing that he isn’t the kind of person who would ever go about in public naked. He claimed that he had been drugged the night before.

“I would never run around here in front of everybody buck naked,” he shouted. “I’m not crazy...they’re playing games. They laced me last night.”

The man, who was not identified by authorities, was arrested on suspicion of burglary.