Police Blotter: Residential Burglaries and Auto Theft

From July 24-30, the Arcadia Police Department responded to 931 calls for service, 135 of which required formal investigations. Here is a summary of the major incidents reported in the Department's blotter.

July 24:

Between 4 p.m. July 23 and 12 p.m. July 24, an auto burglary took place in the 200 block of West Huntington Drive.  The suspect(s) forced open the rear window and stole a speaker box, a CD player, an amplifier, an equalizer and a CD case containing approximately 400 CD's.

At about 6:25 p.m., loss prevention personnel from JC Penney at the Westfield Santa Anita Mall detained a 15-year-old girl for theft.  She had taken the merchandise into a fitting room, concealed it, and walked out of the store without paying. Police arrested her.

Between 4:30 p.m. July 23 and 7:45 a.m. July 24, a burglary occurred in the 1100 block of South First Avenue. The suspect(s) cut the lock of a security gate that surrounds the residence, which is under construction. The suspect(s) stole tools, a faucet and a crystal chandelier.

July 25:

Between 1 a.m. and 12 p.m., an auto theft occurred in the 1200 block of South Baldwin Avenue. The suspect(s) stole a grey, 4-door 2010 Acura TL from the parking lot of the location.

Between 5:30 p.m. July 21 and 6 a.m. July 25, a grand theft occurred at the Los Angeles County Department of Weights and Measures, 12300 Lower Azusa Road. Unknown suspect(s) removed a dedication plaque located on the outer wall of the building.

July 26:

At about 4:49 a.m., a burglary occurred in a home on the 100 block of Diamond Street. The resident awoke to find a man in her bedroom.  He grabbed a purse located at the foot of the bed and fled. The suspect was described as a male, 5 feet, 10 inches tall. He wore a white T-shirt and basketball shorts. He had entered through an unlocked door.

July 27:

At about 12:21 p.m., officers responded to a burglar alarm set off in the 1100 block of Oakwood Drive. Witnesses saw two men leaving the home and entering a vehicle described as a 4-door, late model black Lexus sedan with dark tinted windows. Witnesses gave conflicting descriptions of the suspects. An investigation found the home's rear door pried open, but no loss was reported.

At about 11 p.m., police were dispatched to the 600 block of West Walnut regarding an attempted residential burglary.  The resident awoke to the sound of someone attempting to open the front door and then trying the side entrance. When he turned on the porch light, he saw a man age 20- 30-years-old, who stood 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighed about 150 lbs. The suspect had a flashlight he shined into the victim's face before fleeing the residence.

At about 11:45 p.m., a 53-year-old man was standing at the front of an open business in the 00 block of East Huntington Drive. The man saw a silver 2-door Honda with tinted windows driving by slowly. He heard a noise come from the vehicle before being struck in the elbow by a pellet or BB projectile. The suspect(s) fled in the vehicle. The victim did not seek medical aid for the lacerations he suffered.

July 28:

At about 3:24 p.m., officers responded to Dana's Housekeeping at 500 North First Ave. regarding a robbery that had just occurred. A male suspect had entered the business and told the victim he had a gun, demanding cash and checks from the business. The victim cooperated. The suspect fled on foot. The suspect is described as a 30-year-old African-American man, standing 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds. He has short black hair, and wore a blue and white plaid shirt, sunglasses, and a floppy straw hat.

July 29:

Between 9:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., an auto burglary occurred in the 500 block of East Live Oak Avenue. The suspect(s) smashed the front and rear passenger side windows, damaging the driver's side lock, and ransacked the glove compartment. No loss was reported.

Between 8 p.m. July 28 and 5:45 a.m. July 29, a residential burglary occurred in the 0 block of Christina Street. The suspect(s) got into a detached garage as well as three separate storage cabinets. The suspect(s) stole tools and other property.

July 30:

At about 11:36 p.m., a traffic stop was conducted in the area of First Avenue and Huntington Drive on a vehicle that had been reported as suspicious earlier in the evening. A record check revealed the driver, a 43-year-old male, had a suspended driver's license and a warrant for his arrest. During a search of the vehicle, officers found tools commonly associated with burglaries. Officers also found evidence linking the suspect to a reported auto theft in a neighboring city. The suspect was arrested for suspicion of commercial burglary and additional misdemeanor charges.

At approximately 11:45 p.m., units were dispatched to the 800 block of South Third Avenue regarding a possible residential burglary in progress. A resident at the location went to check the garage because he thought someone was inside. When he opened the door he found an 18-year-old man standing next to a car with the door open. The suspect had taken a cell phone and garage door opener from the car. When confronted, the suspect fled on foot. Police located and detained a man who matched the suspect's description at First Avenue and Duarte Road. The man had the stolen property from the victim's vehicle. Officers placed under arrest for residential burglary.