Police Blotter: Child Left Unattended at the Mall

For the period of Feb. 26-March 3, the responded to 995 calls for service, 114 of which required formal investigations. The following is a summary report of the major incidents handled by the Department during this period.

Feb. 26:

Around 2:13 a.m., an officer observed a red Nissan Altima stopped in the middle of First Avenue at Alta Street, impeding the flow of traffic. Upon talking with the driver, the officer noticed the odor of alcohol emitting from her person. The officer determined the 23-year-old woman was driving under the influence and arrested her.

At approximately 5:53 p.m., an unknown suspect wearing a white T-shirt and dark colored pants stole a bicycle from the parking lot near at the . Video surveillance revealed that, shortly after the victim locked his bicycle to a parking sign pole, the suspect took the bicycle and fled.

Feb. 27:

At about 3:59 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 000 block of Santa Rosa Road regarding an auto burglary report. Unknown suspect(s) smashed the rear window of a Nissan Xterra and stole the victim's speaker box. No one saw or heard anything suspicious.

Shortly after 8 p.m., an officer was dispatched to at the Santa Anita Mall regarding a theft report. A man allegedly opened a Nordstrom credit account using a fake identification card and made fraudulent purchases. The 46-year-old suspect was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 

Feb. 28:

At about 11:09 a.m., an officer responded to the 000 block of West Lemon Avenue regarding a mail theft. The alleged victim reported observing a woman take a brown package from the front porch and enter the passenger seat of a brown vehicle similar to a 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue. The victim recorded the license plate number and further investigation is being conducted by the Detective Bureau. The suspect is described as a pregnant Hispanic female in her mid-20's, approximately 150 pounds, with brown, shoulder-length hair. She was reportedly wearing a brown floral print dress and brown sweater.

At approximately 12:46 p.m., an officer responded to the Arcadia Police Department front counter in regards to a fraud report. The victim explained she checked her credit report and discovered three utility accounts that were in collections, which she never opened. She has no idea how her information was comprised.

Feb. 29:

Around 11:39 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the Santa Anita Mall regarding a possible lost child. Witnesses advised mall security that a small girl appeared to be left alone in the child's playground area near . When the officer walked the child around the mall to look for her parent(s), he was approached by a mall kiosk employee who claimed to be her father. An investigation revealed the employee was unable to find childcare for his 2-year-old daughter and left her unattended in the child's playground area while he worked. The father was counseled and a copy of the report was forwarded to the Department of Child and Family Services.

At approximately 7:08 p.m., an officer responded to 000 block of South Third Avenue regarding a residential burglary report. The victim returned home and discovered his bedrooms had been ransacked. The officer determined the suspect(s) forced entry by smashing out the windowpane of a side door. The victim reported jewelry and several electronics devices missing.

A neighbor across the street explained an unknown man approximately 5-feet-4-inches tall with medium build, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with the hood over his head, knocked on her front door at approximately 1 p.m. However, she did not answer because she believed he was a solicitor. She explained he knocked off and on for approximately 20 minutes, and she also heard banging noises next door. She peered out the window and observed a silver minivan parked across the street and later observed the same minivan parked in the victim's driveway.

March 1:

Shortly after 9:59 a.m., an officer was dispatched to West Duarte Road and Holly Avenue in regards to a two-party traffic accident. Party-two attempted to turn left onto southbound Holly Avenue on a green arrow when she was struck by party-one. An investigation revealed party-one failed to stop at the red light. No major injuries were reported.

At about 8:45 p.m., an officer responded to the Arcadia Police Department front counter regarding a fraud investigation. The victim explained he went to , 125 North First Avenue, to update his account with his new debit card information. A short time later, he discovered unauthorized charges were made on Amazon.com using his debit card. He learned the purchaser's name was the same as the 24 Hour Fitness representative who completed the changes on his account.

March 2:

Around 3:11 p.m., a victim of fraud came into the Arcadia Police Department front counter to report fraudulent use of his social security number. He explained he received a notice from the IRS indicating there was a discrepancy on his 2010 taxes. An investigation revealed an unknown subject used his social security number to file a false income tax return. The victim has no idea how his information was compromised.

At about 10 p.m., an officer was traveling on Huntington Drive at Baldwin Avenue and observed a parked Honda Accord with no license plates. The officer made contact with the driver and determined his license was suspended. The 23-year-old driver was cited and released in the field.

March 3:

At roughly 1:50 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on a Jeep Wrangler for speeding on Live Oak Avenue, at Foss Avenue. Upon contact with the driver, the officer detected an odor of alcohol emitting from inside the vehicle. The officer determined the 30-year-old woman was driving under the influence. She was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.

Shortly after 3:55 p.m., an officer was dispatched to at the Santa Anita Mall regarding two teenage detained on suspicion of theft. Loss prevention reported observing the suspects conceal merchandise inside their purses and a used shopping bag. The 13-year-old girls were transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking and later released to their parents.