Crime & Safety

Police Blotter: Craigslist Incident, Elderly Scam and Wire Fraud

Arcadia Police also dealt with a series of thefts, including a broken faucet scam.

For the period of Sunday, April 8-14, the  responded to 1,039 calls for service, 120 of which required formal investigations. The following is a summary report of the major incidents handled by the Department during this period.

Sunday, April 8:

Around 6:49 p.m., an officer responded to 000 block of South Baldwin Avenue regarding a theft report. The officer determined someone had forced entry through the patio fence, which surrounded the location. No one saw or heard anything suspicious.

At approximately 7:17 p.m., officers responded to the Arcadia Police Department front counter regarding a fraud report. The victim explained she was aware that one of her friends was going on a trip to Europe soon. She received an email from her friend stating she had lost her passport and credit cards in Wales, and needed a wire transfer to come back home.

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The victim completed the wire transfer and later discovered her friend’s email account had been compromised, and that she had not left on her trip yet. The victim is desirous of prosecution. 

Monday, April 9:

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At about 9:21 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on a black Toyota pick-up truck on Holly Avenue at Longden Avenue, for failing to stop at a stop sign. The officer discovered the driver had a suspended license and had two outstanding misdemeanor warrants. The 25-year-old driver was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.

Shortly after 7:55 p.m., officers responded to the 2000 block of Greenfield Avenue in regards to a suspicious circumstances report. A man standing to the front of the location explained to officers that he was there to purchase two vehicles, which he saw advertised on Craigslist. Shortly after, female adult exited the residence and explained she was selling cars for a friend. An investigation revealed the female subject, along with two other suspects (her 16-year-old son and a male adult), forced entry into her ex-boyfriend’s home. Further investigation revealed the ex-boyfriend was incarcerated at the time of the report. All three suspects were arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.

Tuesday, April 10:

At about 8:34 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on a silver Volkswagen Jetta because he saw the driver talking on her cell phone, near the intersections of Santa Anita Avenue and Huntington Drive.  An investigation revealed the 47-year-old female had a suspended license and was under the influence of alcohol. She was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.

At approximately 6:53 p.m., an officer responded to theft report at Sephora, located in Santa Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin Avenue, in reference to a theft report. A female adult concealed merchandise inside a used shopping bag, and exited the store without making payment. The 21-year-old female was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.

Wednesday, April 11:

At around 10:35 a.m., officers were dispatched to Chase Bank, 700 West Huntington Drive, in regards to a suspicious circumstances report. An investigation revealed the victim, an elderly male, was trying to withdraw $18,000 so he could pay for house repairs. He explained a man approached his house and offered to fix the leak he had in his roof. He further explained the man was waiting for him at the 76 Gas Station across the street, 701 West Huntington Drive. The victim’s account history revealed he had withdrawn close to $40,000 over the last few months, which he thinks he gave to the same man. An area check for the suspect proved negative.

At approximately 9:17 p.m., an officer responded to a 7-Eleven, located at 200 East Live Oak Avenue, in regards to a theft that had just occurred. A clerk observed an unknown male subject carry an eighteen pack of beer out of the store without making payment. The suspect fled the scene out of sight. He is described by Arcadia police as a Hispanic male, between 18- to 19-years-old, 5 feet and 11 inches tall, weighing around 185 pounds. The suspect had a clean shaven head and was wearing a grey t-shirt and black shorts at the time of the incident.

Thursday, April 12:

Shortly after 6:20 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 000 block of South Golden West Avenue regarding a residential burglary report. The victim returned home and discovered his residence had been ransacked. Jewelry and cash were reported missing. The officer could not locate any signs of forced entry, and no one saw or heard anything suspicious.

At about 7:48 p.m., an officer responded to the Macy’s parking lot at the Santa Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin Avenue, in reference to a theft report. The victim discovered that her purse was stolen from inside her vehicle. The victim believes she might have left the passenger door unlocked. No one saw or heard anything suspicious.

Friday, April 13:

Around 1:56 p.m., officers responded to the Ralphs parking lot, 211 East Foothill Boulevard, regarding a vehicle collision with a pedestrian. As the driver of a white Dodge Ram reversed out of her parking stall, she struck a man walking to the rear of her vehicle. An investigation revealed the pedestrian was walking toward the entrance of the supermarket while looking down to fix his raincoat hood. The officer determined the vehicle was traveling five miles per hour. No major injuries were reported.

At approximately 9:10 p.m., an officer conducted a DMV check on a black Honda Accord traveling on Santa Anita Avenue at Huntington Drive, and discovered a warrant attached to the license plate. An investigation revealed the 38-year-old female driver was never issued a license. She was cited and released in the field. A search of the front passenger, a 38-year-old male, revealed he was in possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.

Saturday, April 14:

At roughly 10:25 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 1000 block of South Santa Anita Avenue regarding a residential burglary report. The victim was contacted by an unknown male subject at her front door, who stated he was a contract worker for the City of Arcadia and wanted to check her water for sewer contamination.

After the subject was let into the home, he instructed the victim to tap on the kitchen faucet with a spoon while he checked other areas. A short time later, the victim discovered the subject was gone, and noticed a large amount of cash missing from her bedroom. The suspect is described by police as a Hispanic male between 40- to 50-years-old, 6 feet tall, with a muscular build, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a light blue colored long sleeve denim shirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes at the time of the incident.

The Sierra Madre Police Department arrived at the location and provided the officer with a crime bulletin containing two composite sketches of two suspects who committed a burglary in their city by similar means. The victim believed one of the sketches looked like the suspect that burglarized her home.

Around 3:41 p.m., an officer responded to the security office at the Santa Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin Avenue, regarding a theft report. After making a purchase at Charlotte Russe, the victim placed her wallet inside her purse. A short time later, the victim visited another store and discovered her wallet missing, and had no idea who took her property.

The above information comes from an edited crime report provided by the Arcadia Police Department.


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