Police Blotter: Man Impersonates City Employee to Burglarize Home

For the period of 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 the 000 block of South Baldwin Avenue regarding a theft report. Unknown suspect(s) stole a bicycle from the resident's patio. The officer determined the suspect(s) 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. The victim completed the wire transfer, only to later discover her friend's email account had been compromised. The friend had not left on her trip yet.

Monday, April 9:

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 two outstanding misdemeanor warrants. The 25-year-old man 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 he saw advertised on Craigslist. Shortly after, a woman exited the residence and explained she was selling cars for a friend. An investigation revealed the suspect, along with two other suspects — her 16-year-old son and another male companion — 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 in the area of Santa Anita Avenue and Huntington Drive because he saw the driver talking on her cell phone.  An investigation revealed the 47-year-old woman 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 at the regarding a theft report. A woman allegedly concealed merchandise inside a used shopping bag and exited the store without paying. The 21-year-old suspect was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking.
   
Wednesday, April 11:

Around 10:35 a.m., officers were dispatched to , 700 West Huntington Drive, regarding 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 that a man had approached his house and offered to fix the leaky roof. He went on to say the man was waiting for him at the across the street at 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 , 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 as a Hispanic male, approximately 18 to 19-years-old, 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, with a shaven head, wearing a grey T-shirt and black shorts.
 
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 it 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 parking lot at the Santa Anita Mall regarding a theft report. The victim discovered unknown suspect(s) stole her purse 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 Ralph's 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. The officer discovered a warrant attached to the license plate. An investigation revealed the 38-year-old woman was never issued a license. She was cited and released in the field. A search of the front passenger, a 38-year-old man 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 man 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 had left, and noticed a large amount of cash missing from her bedroom. The suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his early- to mid-40s, 6-foot tall, muscular build, with brown hair and brown eyes. He wore a light-blue colored long-sleeved denim shirt, blue jeans, and tennis shoes.

The Sierra Made 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 who 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 , 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.