During the holiday gift-buying season, there's even more incentive for armed criminals to consider following home shoppers. But police and experts say a few simple precautions will help reduce the chances of being confronted, assaulted or killed. Los Angeles Police Chief Michael Moore said Thursday more than 150 follow-home robberies have been reported so far this year, claiming two lives. Many victims were targeted because they wore expensive jewelry or drove luxury vehicles. "There’s a sense of a lack of consequences by a number of these suspects,” Moore said. “We take these instances of violence very seriously.” The Los Angeles Times reported that robberies in the city have increased by 3.2% since 2020, but in the area of the Melrose Avenue shopping area have increased by 20%. The follow-home robberies represent an uptick in violent crime which has not been seen in the area "in decades," Moore said. In response to those incidents and others, police formed a special task force and issued a list of recommendations to help people keep from becoming victims. Among the recommendations are to not conspicuously wear flashy jewelry or watches, stay aware of surroundings and call 911 if there is a suspicion that one is being followed home. #losangeles