BURGLARY SUSPECT ARRESTED, MAY BE TIED TO AREA HEISTS.

Byline: Lisa Van Proyen Staff Writer

TARZANA - Police arrested a 40-year-old man on suspicion of burglary Friday as part of an investigation into 10 early morning break-ins since January, officials said.

The suspect was identified as Albert Ben Shirit, an Israeli national who has lived in the United States for just over a year, said Los Angeles police Detective Greg Derousseau.

``He was pretty active,'' said Los Angeles police Capt. Jim Cansler, commanding officer of detectives at the West Valley Division.

Shirit was arrested after police set up surveillance in a Tarzana neighborhood where a burglar struck about 10 times, mostly while residents slept.

At about 4 a.m. Friday, undercover officers saw a man jump over a wall and try to pry open a rear door at a home in the 5900 block of Chimineas Avenue, Cansler said.

The man was captured after a short attempt to flee on foot.

Witness descriptions and evidence found at the burglarized homes were linked to Shirit, Cansler said. He was living out of his car, a red Audi, in the neighborhood.

Detectives are investigating whether Shirit is tied to 10 burglaries in which jewelry, cash and other property were stolen, police said. In most of those burglaries, the intruder entered homes through sliding-glass doors between about 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., Cansler said. Some of the doors were unlocked.

In one case, a resident returned home from work about 5 a.m. and confronted the burglar, who fled from the home.

Detectives urge any people who believe their homes were burglarized in Tarzana recently to contact police at [phone].