Crime & Safety

Police Blotter: Child Helps Mom Steal, House Engulfed in Flames

It was a busy week for Arcadia police.

For the period of Jan. 29-Feb. 4, the responded to 903 calls for service, 104 of which required formal investigations. The following is a summary report of the major incidents handled by the Department during this period.

Jan. 29:

At about 12:40 a.m., an officer working a DUI checkpoint on Santa Anita Avenue at Santa Clara Street stopped the driver of a grey Saturn. The driver reportedly provided the officer with false identification. The officer determined the driver was driving under the influence of alcohol and had three outstanding warrants. The 42-year-old man was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.

At approximately 6:17 p.m., an officer responded to at the regarding a theft report. Two teen girls allegedly concealed several items inside their purses and exited the store without making payment. The 13-year-old and 14-year-old suspects were arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. Both were later released to their parental guardian.

Jan. 30:

Shortly after 12:13 p.m., an officer observed a boy standing with his bicycle in the middle of Santa Rosa Road, near Colorado Boulevard. The officer talked with the boy, who allegedly skipped school to hang out with friends. The officer reportedly found marijuana and drug paraphernalia inside the the boy's backpack. The 17-year-old was cited on suspicion of the listed charges and released to his father.

Around 9:12 p.m., an officer was dispatched to at the Santa Anita Mall regarding a woman in custody on suspicion of theft. The suspect allegedly concealed a bottle of perfume inside her purse, and another inside her bra. A search of her purse turned up two inactivated credit cards issued to different names. The officer searched the woman's vehicle and reportedly discovered additional inactivated credit cards still glued to their approval letters, two possibly stolen laptops and mail containing the personal identifying information of other people. The 23-year-old woman was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.
 
Jan. 31:

At approximately 9:33 a.m., an officer responded to the Arcadia Police Department front counter in regards to an identity theft report. The victim received a Target credit card statement in the mail for an account he did not open. The victim has no idea how his personal information was compromised.

At about 2:25 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the intersection of Huntington Drive and Baldwin Avenue regarding a two-party traffic collision. Party Two was driving on northbound Baldwin Avenue when he was struck by Party One, traveling westbound on Huntington Drive. An investigation revealed Party One failed to stop for a red light. No major injuries were reported.
 
Feb. 1:

Around 1:01 p.m., an officer responded to the 000 block of West Leroy Avenue, in regards to a residential burglary report. The victim received a phone call from his alarm company indicating his front door alarm had activated. He returned home and discovered his front door had been forced open. He observed the door was damaged; however, no property was missing. It appeared the unknown suspect(s) became startled at the sound of the alarm and fled the scene undetected.

At approximately 5:28 p.m., an officer responded to H & M at the Santa Anita Mall regarding a woman and a teenage girl detained on suspicion of theft.  A loss prevention officer reported observing the woman select numerous items of clothing and carry the merchandise to a secluded area of the store with her 11-year-old daughter. The suspect placed the merchandise on a wall display and proceeded to walk away, after which the juvenile allegedly put the merchandise in an empty Hollister shopping bag. Both suspects reportedly exited the store without paying. The pair are also suspected of stealing items from . The 32-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of Commercial Burglary and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. A report was made to the Department of Child and Family Services, and the daughter was later released to a parental guardian.


Feb. 2:

Shortly after 1:31 a.m., officers conducted a bicycle traffic stop on southbound Santa Anita Avenue at Le Roy Avenue for not having a safety reflector. A records check revealed the bicyclist was on parole. The officer searched the man and reportedly found methamphetamines inside his pants pocket. The 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Around 6:25 p.m., an officer responded to the 1000 block of South First Avenue in regards to a structure fire. When the officer arrived, and personnel from the Arcadia Fire Department and Monrovia Fire Department were already on scene. The fire was successfully extinguished; however, at the time of the report the cause of the fire was unknown.

Feb. 3:

At approximately 9:12 a.m., an officer responded to the Arcadia Police Department front counter regarding a theft report. The victim explained he received a call from a man who identified himself as the victim's son. The man requested a wire transfer via Western Union to bail himself out of jail in Panama City, Panama. The victim believed the subject and completed the wire transfer. A short time later, the victim received a phone call from her actual son who explained he was at home, and never went to Panama.

At about 8 p.m., an officer responded to the area of Oakwood Avenue and Virginia Road, in regards to an auto burglary. The victim discovered unknown suspect(s) stole her Louis Vuitton purse from inside her vehicle, which also contained a large amount of cash and checks. The officer did not find any signs of forced entry. 

Feb. 4:

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At roughly 11:42 a.m., an officer responded to the 000 block of East Longden Avenue regarding an attempted burglary report. The victim was looking out the window to his home and noticed the screen was missing. He then went outside and discovered pry marks on three windows and two doors. The officer determined unknown suspect(s) attempted to burglarize the home and fled the area undetected.

Shortly after 4:43 p.m., an officer responded to Victoria's Secret at the Santa Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin Avenue, in reference to a theft investigation. Unknown suspect(s) entered the store and stole 28 pairs of yoga pants from a display table. At the time of the report, no one present saw or heard anything suspicious.


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