Five auto burglaries

The Arcadia Police Department responded to 948 calls for service from Sunday, Feb. 21 to Saturday, Feb. 27, of which 146 required formal investigations.
Here is a summary report of the major incidents handled by the officers of the Arcadia Police Department during this period. (Listed in crime categories created by Arcadia’s Best).

ARCADIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Calls for Criminal Activity
Totals Year-to-Date (thru 2/20)
Calls for Service: 7,699 (2009 total: 50,371; 2008 Total: 49,699)
Formal Investigations: 1,145 (2009 total: 7,092; 2008 total: 6,705)

Residential burglary/theft
Between noon and 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, a residential burglary occurred in the 00 block of West Pamela. Unknown suspect(s) pried open a rear door to enter the home and then stole a large amount of cash, jewelry, and watches.
* A burglary alarm activated in the 600 block of West Woodruff around 11:20 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, but the resident canceled the call with the alarm company thinking that it was a false alarm. The residents returned home later to find that their home was burgled. A watch and two diamond rings were stolen.

Domestic violence
Units responded to the 800 block of West Duarte around 10:11 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25 in reference to a domestic violence incident that occurred on February 16. The victim advised that during an argument with her husband, he choked her and pushed her to the ground. After the battery, her husband left the scene.

Auto burglary
Five auto burglaries were reported between 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20 and 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 21. The burglaries occurred in the 800 and 900 blocks of Hampton, 500 block of Arbolada, 500 block of Alster, and 600 block of Gloria. The cars were either unlocked or the suspect(s) had to smash a car window to steal property.

Business burglary
* Loss prevention personnel from Macy’s advised that they had detained an elderly woman for theft around 9:43 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26. The woman was seen switching price tags on merchandise in order to pay a lower price for the item. A private person’s arrest was made, and a 70-year-old Hispanic was taken into custody for commercial burglary.
* Around 4:13 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, loss prevention personnel from Macy’s advised that they had detained a woman for theft. The suspect used wire cutters to remove price tags and security sensors from merchandise and then concealed them in a Macy’s shopping bag. A private person’s arrest was made, and a 37-year-old Hispanic was taken into custody for commercial burglary and a $20,000 outstanding misdemeanor warrant.

Grand theft
Units responded to the 1600 block of Wilson around 4:15 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, regarding a suspicious male suspect hovering near some parked vehicles.  Officers conducted an area search and found two men in a parked vehicle in the 1600 block of Oakwood.  A 26-year-old male African-American driver claimed that he had been sleeping in the vehicle, even though the vehicle’s engine was still warm.  A 24-year-old male Caucasian passenger was soaking wet and he alleged that he had slept with the car window open.  A consent search of the vehicle was conducted and stolen property from several vehicles parked in surrounding areas was recovered.  The men were taken into custody for grand theft and receiving stolen property.

Traffic collision
An injury traffic collision occurred around 5:55 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, at Holly and Campus. A vehicle failed to stop for a red traffic signal and another vehicle had to swerve to avoid the collision and ended up crashing into a light pole. An 18-year-old female victim complained of chest pains and was transported to a hospital for medical treatment, and the driver who caused the accident fled the scene.

Outstanding warrant
Around 2:36 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, officers detained a man riding a homemade moped at Colorado and San Juan. A 28-year-old male Caucasian was detained and a record check revealed that he had a no bail warrant out of Illinois and was taken into custody. Cook County was notified of the arrest and they will extradite.

Drugs and alcohol
*Shortly before 3:00 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, a traffic stop was conducted at 180 Campus for a seatbelt violation. Five juveniles, between 12 and 13 years of age, were found in the backseat of the Honda Accord, with a juvenile lying on the floor. A 34-year-old male Hispanic driver was contacted, and a DMV check revealed that he was never issued a driver’s license and he had no insurance. The driver was arrested at the scene and a pre-booking inventory search revealed a baggie of crystalline substance resembling methamphetamine.
* Around 7:16 p.m., a traffic stop was initiated at Peck and Randolph for an equipment violation. A record check of the 51-year-old male Caucasian driver revealed that he had outstanding misdemeanor warrants. An inventory search of the vehicle prior to impound was conducted and a baggie containing a white crystalline substance resembling methamphetamine was found underneath a seat. He was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and outstanding warrants.
* Shortly before 11:00 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, a traffic stop was made at Santa Anita and Live Oak for a code violation. Officers detected the smell of alcohol on the driver’s breath and person, and his speech was slurred. A field sobriety test determined that the 54-year-old male Asian was operating the vehicle while under the influence and was arrested.

Fraud
* A victim came to the station around 8:58 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, to file a fraud report. The victim advised that an old acquaintance may have used his personal information to open a credit card account and made over $7,350 in unauthorized charges, which has since gone to a collection agency.
* Around 12:24 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, a victim came to the station to report a fraud. In 2005, unknown suspect(s) used the victim’s personal information for unknown means, resulting in an outstanding debt of $11,380 owed to the Internal Revenue Service.

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