Police Blotter: Fraud

For the period of Sept. 11-17, the responded to 888 calls for service, of which 130 required formal investigations. Here is a summary report of the major incidents handled by the Department during this period.

Sept. 11:

At about 3:45 a.m., police conducted a traffic stop on Santa Anita Avenue and Colorado Boulevard for a missing headlight and flat tire.  The driver, a 33-year-old man, had collided with a pole in the center median and was under the influence. The officer booked him at the Arcadia City Jail for D.U.I.

Officers arrived in the 1100 block of West Duarte Road to find a 22-year-old man and a woman arguing inside a parked vehicle. The officers arrested the man on two outstanding misdemeanor warrants.

Sept. 12:

officials called to report that someone had vandalized campus vending machines over the weekend and stolen money from inside the machines.

At approximately 5:21 p.m., officers responded to the regarding suspicious circumstances. The victim told officers that on Sept. 1, he received a voicemail from a man with a heavy Indian accent supposedly representing Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations. The caller said that he had a business/legal matter to discuss. Upon returning the call, the victim spoke to a woman with a heavy Indian accent who identified herself as an attorney. She told the victim there was an outstanding debt he needed to pay immediately or legal action would be taken. The victim, believing the woman, purchased a prepaid Visa as instructed and then faxed the card information to the number provided by her. The victim believes the incident was fraudulent and possibly from outside the country.

Sept. 13:

Between Sept. 12 at 9:30 p.m., and Tuesday Sept. 13 at 8:15 a.m., a vehicle theft occurred in the 200 block of San Antonio Road. The suspect(s) stole a 2007, black, GMC Yukon SUV, parked in front of the location.

At about 4 p.m., a victim came to the station to report that a fraud had occurred on Sept. 8. The 81-year-old woman said two men approached her in the parking lot of the Walgreens at 253 East Foothill Boulevard. She described them as Hispanic, in their mid-20's, and standing approximately 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighing 170 lbs. They both had medium length black hair. The suspects told her that they were mechanics and could repair the existing collision damage on her vehicle. The victim agreed and gave the men a check to purchase the materials and meet her at her residence to fix the car. The check was cashed later that day and the suspects never arrived at her home.

Sept. 14:

At about 5:30 a.m., officers responded to Arcadia Reclamation Inc. at 12321 Lower Azusa Road, regarding damaged property. Sometime between Sept. 12 at midnight, and Sept. 14 at 2 a.m., suspect(s) stole approximately 300 feet of copper wiring from the in-ground traffic signal boxes at the location.

A theft occurred in the parking lot of Ralphs at 16 East Live Oak Avenue sometime between 8 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. The suspect(s) stole the front tire of a bicycle that was parked and locked at the location.

Sept. 15:

At approximately 9:10 a.m., officers spoke with a 49-year-old man, soliciting in the area of Tenth Avenue and Derek Drive. A records check of the subject revealed he was a parolee at large with outstanding warrants. Officers took him into custody and booked him for the warrants at the Arcadia City Jail. 

Between 9:02 a.m. and 5:35 p.m., a residential burglary occurred in the 700 block of West Fairview Avenue. Suspect(s) entered the residence through an unlocked front door, ransacked the house and stole jewelry.

Sept. 16:

Between Sept. 15 at 10:15 p.m., and Sept, 16 at 7 a.m., a theft occurred at at 422 West Lemon Avenue.  Suspect(s) forced open two vending machines and stole the money inside.

A home in the 200 block of West Magna Vista Avenue was burglarized between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The suspect(s) entered the residence through an open sliding door and stole two televisions.

Sept. 17:

Shortly after 1 p.m., loss prevention personnel from Zumies at the Westfield Santa Anita Mall detained a women and a teenage girl for theft. The suspects entered a fitting room, hid merchandise in their purses and attempted to leave. The 22-year-old woman admitted that she had brought previously stolen merchandise with her to return for cash. Officers arrested both the woman and the 14-year-old girl. During a search of the teen, officers found marijuana and other narcotic paraphernalia on her person.

A victim came to the station around 3 p.m. to report a theft by false pretenses. The victim stated that on Sept. 15 she had attempted to purchase a vehicle advertised for sale on Craigslist. She met the selling party in the 900 block of West Duarte Road to inspect and purchase the vehicle. The victim gave the suspect a $500.00 deposit, and has not heard from him since.