altadenablog

Police activity on west side Wednesday afternoon [UPDATED]

 

Police dogs were used to find a suspect after deputies put an Altadena neighborhood under containment Wednesday afternoon.

 

 

by Timothy Rutt

Altadena sheriff deputies set up a containment to catch a suspect on the west side of town, south of Altadena Drive to Devirian and from about LIncoln to Olive.

According to scanner traffic, officers were looking for a suspect, and had deployed the helicopter and dogs to flush him out.  Shortly after a call came in for an ambulance to treat a dog bite, the containment was broken down.

We're trying to contact Altadena Sheriff station for details. but keep getting bounced to unanswered phones.  We'll keep trying.

UPDATE: Crescenta Valley Station reports that the suspect was involved in a combination of stolen vehicle and burglary, and was identified by a deputy on patrol rather than a call to the station.  The suspect was subdued by a police dog, and is currently (5 PM) at the hospital being treated for injuries.  He has not yet been taken to the Crescenta Valley Station jail nor booked.

UPDATE II: Altadena Sheriff Capt. John Benedict tweeted: #Altadena burglary suspect arrested in stolen car by deputies. K-9 unit found suspect hiding after being contained by deputies.

Sheriff warns to look out for catalytic converter thefts

from the Altadena Sheriff's Station

The Altadena Sheriff's Station has been investigating a series of catalytic converter thefts from parked vehicles. Thieves target an automobile’s catalytic converter for resale as a used part to disreputable repair shops or for the scrap value of the precious metals contained inside. Toyota and Mitsubishi vehicles are frequently targeted. 

A catalytic converter is an emission control device that is located under the vehicle within the exhaust system. Some vehicles have more than one converter depending upon the model. The cost to replace a single catalytic converter can easily exceed $1,000. 

Thieves generally target converters at night and use simple hand tools to remove the bolts and nuts that secure the device to the vehicle. The Simi Valley Police Department is recommending that vehicle owners consult with a trusted repair shop and request that the bolts and nuts securing the catalytic converter to the exhaust system be “tac welded” together to prevent their removal with simple hand tools. Removal of the converter will still be possible by using tools that generally create a significant amount of noise, something a thief will not be able to do in the middle of the night without drawing unwanted attention to their crime. 

Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting the Altadena Sheriff’s Station at 626-798-1131. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org 

Crime blotter: bad week for cars

Crime blotter provided by Altadena Sheriff Station. 

Thursday, November 1 

Approx. 12:35 PM – A petty theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred in the 100 block of W. Poppyfields Drive. Loss: gray Samsung slate computer. 

Between 7:00 PM and 11:50 PM – A vandalism occurred in the 2500 block of El Sol Avenue. 

Between 10:00 PM and 2:00 PM (Friday) – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 600 block  of E. Calaveras Street. Loss: green tool box, misc. tools. 

Saturday, November 3rd: 

Between 9:00 AM and 10:45 AM – A vehicle was reported stolen from the 2800 block  of Olive Ave. Vehicle stolen: gold 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe. 

If you have information to report that could help lead to an arrest in these crimes/crime activity, please contact the Altadena Sheriff's Station at 798-1131.

Crime blotter: gunshots this week

Halloween gunshots!  Information provided by the Altadena Sheriff Station .

Wednesday, October 24 

A vehicle was vandalized in the 700 block of Harriett Street. The unknown suspect shattered the window of the victim’s parked car. 

Saturday, October 27

An unknown suspect entered the victim’s locked vehicle on the 2100 block of Lincoln Avenue and stole his wallet. 

An unknown suspect stole the victim’s wallet and iPhone from his locked vehicle which was parked in the 1700 block of Altadena Drive. 

An unknown suspect stole the victim’s purse from her locked vehicle which was parked in the 2100 block of Summit Avenue. 

Tuesday, October 30

An unknown suspect attempted to burglarize a residence in the 2900 block of Calanda Avenue. When a neighbor saw the suspect and confronted him, an altercation ensued. The suspect fired one round from an unknown caliber handgun at the neighbor. The suspect then fled on foot. Deputies were then called. The responding deputies contained the area, but were unable to locate the suspect. The suspect is described as a male/black suspect approximately 20 years old. 

Wednesday, October 31

A resident in the 900 block of Mariposa St. reported that unknown suspects entered her house and stole a diamond ring. Entry was made by forcing open a window. 

A resident in the 2800 block of El Nido Drive reported that an unknown suspect was yelling in her driveway and refused to leave. A few minutes later the suspect ran. The resident then heard 5 – 6 gunshots being fired. There were no reported injuries and no damage noted. Shell casings were recovered from the area.

Breaking: Burglary containment on the west side

by TImothy Rutt

The sheriff's have mounted a containment on a burglary call tonight, starting at about 6 PM.  One of our fellow scanner-heads, Maggie, tells us that "Containment goes from Calanda & Devirian down to Olive and Mariposa...not sure how far west but Olive seems to be the eastern border. Medics will go to Calanda and Devirian."

A call to sheriff office yielded nothing now, as the watch commander is at the scene.

7:05: scanner said they are breaking down the containment -- we'll monitor the situation, and when anybody can talk, we'll let you know!

UPDATE:  Dep. Aura Sierra at Sheriff headquarters in Monterey Park said that a suspect attempted to break in to a home at the 2900 block of Calanda Avenue.  The call came in at 4:25 PM Tuesday, and deputies responded by setting up a containment around the neighborhood. According to Sierra, after clearing the house and the neighborhood, the containment ended at approximately 8:05 PM with no suspect in custody.

The suspect was described as a black male in his 20's, 5 ft. 10 ins. to 6 ft. in height, and with a thin build.

 

Possible door-to-door scam going on

Received this message from a reader this afternoon -- keep on the lookout!

A teenaged girl just came to our door claiming to be a student at Pasadena Middle School. She says she is raising funds for her college program at the school and said  to receive a bond for college:  all she needed was a signature from a neighbor and a voided check". Please be careful!

This doesn't smell good for many reasons, not least of which is (1) there is no Pasadena Middle School (2) there's a college program for 6-8th graders? and (3) why would you need a voided check?  

Altadena Sheriff's Station is at 798-1131.

 

Crime blotter: a homicide, a shooting, and the usual burglaries

A homicide, two shooting victims, lots of burglaries of cars and residences, and Five Acres suffers loss of computer equipment -- it was a bad week.  Crime blotter provided by the Altadena Sheriff's Station:

Tuesday, October 16
A vehicle was vandalized in the 800 block of Alameda Street. The unknown suspect used a “Sharpie” type marker to write on the victim’s vehicle. 

An unknown suspect stole the victim’s black 24 speed “Trek” model mountain bike in the 2500 block of Fair Oaks Avenue 

An unknown suspect stole $13,000 worth of camera equipment from the victim’s parked vehicle in the 2300 block of Highland Avenue. The victim had left the vehicle’s window partially open. 

An unknown suspect stole the victim’s UPS shipment package, which was delivered on their front porch in the 130 block of Marathon Road. The value of the shipment was $55. 

Suspect Miguel Angel Alvarez (Male/Hispanic – 32 years old), resident of Altadena, was arrested for bicycle theft. He had stolen a relative’s bicycle and then sold it. 

Wednesday, October 17 
An unknown suspect attempted to burglarize a residence in the 2600 block of Glenrose Avenue. The victim reported that someone had kicked open her front door, but did not obtain any items from the house. 

Saturday, October 20
An unknown suspect stole the victim’s wallet from his unlocked vehicle which was parked in the 2800 block of Glenrose Avenue. 

A homicide occurred in the 900 block of Mariposa Street. The incident was domestic violence related and the suspect was arrested. 

Gunshots were fired at three men in the 100 block of Altadena Drive.  Two of the victims were struck by the gunfire and were treated at a local hospital. The suspects were not located. They were seen possibly driving a teal colored car. 

Sunday, October 21
An unknown suspect stole a bicycle described as a black “Diamond Back Free Style” from the backyard of a residence in the 70 block of E. Pine Street. 

An unknown suspect stole a catalytic converter from a vehicle that was parked in the 100 block of W. Terrace Street. 

An unknown suspect stole the victim’s stereo from his vehicle, which was parked in the 2100 block of Lincoln Avenue. Entry was gained by breaking the victim’s car window. 

A resident reported that she came home and found a possible burglary suspect in her backyard. The suspect (male/black adult, 6’ tall) fled when he saw the victim. He was possibly associated with a suspicious vehicle that was parked near the victim’s house. The vehicle was described as a silver vehicle being driven by a female. 

Monday, October 22
Altadena Elementary School reported that an unknown suspect vandalized the location by throwing a rock through a window, shattering it. The incident occurred sometime over the weekend. 

“Five Acres” School reported that unknown suspects stole several pieces of computer equipment from the location. The incident occurred sometime over the weekend. 

An unknown suspect stole the victim’s 1993 Honda Civic from the 400 block of Figueroa Drive. 

An unknown suspect stole a camera from the victim’s car in the 10 block of Woodbury Road. The victim had left the vehicle unlocked while he went inside of a gas station. 

Tuesday, October 23
Unknown suspects stole the victim’s stereo and other equipment items from his locked vehicle in the 700 block of Altadena Drive. 

An unknown suspect stole the victim’s checkbook and identification from her unlocked vehicle, which was parked overnight in the 3100 block of Rubio Canyon. 

Wednesday, October 24
A resident in the 1000 block of Mount Curve Avenue reported that unknown suspects entered her house and stole a computer. Entry was made by breaking a window. 

 

Durham released in weekend stabbing, PSN reports

Pasadena Star News reports that Breta Durham, 55, was released from jail after prosecutors declined to file murder charges.  Durham was charged with the stabbing death of her husband, Robin Steve Martin, 47, at Mariposa Street on Saturday.  The case is still under investigation. PSN.

Neighbors may have thwarted Sunday burglary

by Timothy Rutt

Alert neighbors may have thwarted a burglary on Maiden Lane Sunday afternoon.

In an email message circulating among the newsgroups, a Maiden Lane resident said that his wife came home at about 1 PM to find a car with hazard lights flashing parked next to their house.  Suspicious, she carefully opened up the front door of their empty home and, through a window, saw an intruder in their back yard.

She closed the door quietly and dialed 911. She also backed up her car from her driveway to obstruct the path of the parked car, and flagged down a couple in a passing vehicle and convinced them to further block the road..  She also saw a woman -- described as Hispanic and in her 40's -- slouched on the front seat of the suspicious vehicle.

After seeing the road was blocked, the woman in the suspicious car made a U-turn and sped north on Maiden Lane.  The car was described as light goldish or some other light color, newer-looking four door sedan.

In an interview Monday, the resident who sent the email said that the husband of the couple who was flagged down checked out his back yard after the suspicious car fled, and the intruder was gone.  The resident later found a tire iron by the hot tub in the back yard.

Meanwhile, the neighbor in back of their property said that he was looking into his own back yard at the time and saw two nicely-dressed African American youths, about 16 years of age, come tumbling out of his oleanders and fall onto the grass, escaping through the backyard gate.  Sheriffs who were called to the scene failed to find anybody.

The resident said that another neighbor reported that two African-American men had come to her door earlier, asking for somebody who didn't live in the home.  He theorizes that they were door-knock burglars, looking for an empty house or escape route.

While there's only a rough description of the suspects, and a partial license plate from the suspicious car, the resident told us that there was some possibility that the intruders may have been caught by the security cameras at Rubio Canyon Land & Water's covered reservoir nearby.

But, he told us, his wife was "the hero of the day.  She showed up at exactly the right time."

 

 

Sheriffs arrest victim's wife in Saturday stabbing death [UPDATE] Victim was arrested for assault that day

by Timothy Rutt

A 55 year old woman was arrested Saturday in the stabbing death of her husband on the 900 block of Mariposa Street.

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, deputies from Altadena Station responded to a call of a "person stabbed" at 1:27 PM Saturday.  The victim, a 47-year-old man, was found lying on a sidewalk in front of an apartment building at the location.

According to a press release from the sheriff's office, "Further investigation revealed that the victim had been stabbed by his wife ...  The victim was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries at 5:12 P.M."

The release says that the suspect and victim lived in an apartment together and that the murder weapon, a knife, was recovered at the scene.

Cause of the stabbing is still under investigation, the release said.

The watch commander at the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station said at midnight Saturday that interviews were still going on and they hadn't released the name of  the victim or suspect.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the websitehttp://lacrimestoppers.org. 

Picture of Robin S. Martin from LinkedIn website

UPDATE:  The suspect has been identified as Breta Durham, 55, of Altadena, and the victim as Robin Martin, 47.  According to Lt. Brian Fitch of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department, Martin had been arrested earlier that day for spousal assault and was released after posting bond.

 

There is a firm in Pasadena, Robin S. Martin Incorporated, that lists Breta Durham as an agent.  According to the website LInkedIn, "Robin S. Martin teaches the field of habeas corpus-appeal in his own law college that he owns and started himself. He teaches the "real" law on the field that the establishment does not want you to know and teaches the "tricks and tactics" to make it all work" (that college website is here).  

 

 

 

Crime blotter: child endangerment charges following parole check

from the Altadena Sheriff's Station:

Tuesday, October 9
A vehicle burglary occurred at Eaton Canyon (1700 block of Altadena Drive). The unknown suspect smashed the window of a parked car and stole the victim’s purse, which was visible from the outside. 

Wednesday, October 10 
An unknown suspect spray painted graffiti on the sidewalk at Charles White Park (77 Mountain View Street). 

Sunday, October 14
An unknown suspect entered an unlocked vehicle in the 200 block of Marathon Road and stole the victim’s briefcase. 

Monday, October 15 
An unknown suspect stole two bicycles from the backyard of a residence in the 2600 block of Glen Avenue. 

A residential burglary was reported in the 1300 block of Rubio Street. Entry was made through an unlocked door. 

Tuesday, October 16 
A business in the 2000 block of Fair Oaks was burglarized at 2:15 AM. A small amount of currency was taken. Video surveillance of the incident showed four unknown male suspects. 

During a parole compliance check at a residence in the 300 block of Altadena Drive, COPS Team Deputies arrested three adults for Child Endangerment. Deputies determined that the residence was in such disrepair and unkempt that it posed an immediate danger to the two one year-old children at the location. DCFS took custody of the children.

Shooting suspect arrested without incident

by Timothy Rutt

Kanan Traub, 18, of Altadena was arrested today as the suspected shooter in the incident that cordoned off an Altadena neighborhood from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning (earlier story here).

According to a press release from the Sheriff's Department, deputies located and arrested Traub today without incident at about Lincoln Avenue and Ventura Street.  Traub was booked at Crescenta Valley Station on charges of negligent discharge of a firearm and possession of a loaded concealed firearm.  The press release said he is scheduled to appear in Pasadena Superior Court on Friday.  He is being held in custody in liu of $35,000 bail.

The sheriff's headquarters bureau said they will issue the booking photo soon.

Sheriff still looking for shooting suspect after house search [UPDATED]

 

A large number of sheriff's vehicles maintain a containment area around the home where a shooting suspect was thought to be barricaded.

 

by Timothy Rutt

Deputies used the help of a robot to search a house on the 600 block of Devirian Place Tuesday night, but failed to flush out the suspect in an afternoon shooting incident.

Following the search of the home where the shooter was suspected of barricading himself, deputies were turning their attention to another home on the 600 block of west Mariposa Street.

Deputies were notified that the suspect, a white male, had fired at two black males at about 2:23 PM Tuesday and fled on foot.  Deputies traced him to the Devirian Place address, where they set up a containment around the neighborhood and evacuated nearby houses.  Nobody was reported injured in the shooting.

Deputies from the Altadena and Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station as well as the Sheriff's Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) deputies, Special Weapons Team (SWAT) and deputies of the Sheriff's Special Enforcement Bureau were deployed to handle the situation.  A several-block area on Lincoln Avenue from Altadena Drive to Mariposa was blocked off while deputies tried to locate the suspect.

According to the scanner, a robot was used to help search the house on Deverian.  As of early Wednesday morning, the neighborhood was still blocked off as deputies continued to search.

UPDATE 9:30 PM: The Altadena Sheriff Station says that they did recover the firearm believed used in the shooting from the house, but the suspect slipped the containment and is still at large.

 

 

Report of shots fired, looking for suspect @ Lincoln & Mariposa

by TImothy Rutt

5:15: We have a report of some shots fired, sheriffs are apparently checking out different locations, hence the chopper traffic.  We're monitoring the scanner and checking out what's going on -- what do you see on the street?

Twitter as of about 5 PM says: Deputies looking for suspect near Lincoln and Mariposa now...stay away from area #LASD @LASDALDpic.twitter.com/OH6iL1Zw

5:20: Altadena station says they're setting up a containment, but don't have a location -- they refer us to the watch commander, who's a little busy right now ...

If you see anything in your neighborhood, hashtag #Altadena..

5:38: Per scanner: they have given out a suspect's name, cell phone #, we're not repeating it.

 6:10 Per scanner, they've identified the suspect, and are seeking him out right now.

 

 

Daylight theft caught on video

 

 

by Timothy Rutt

Bruce Wasson shares this video taken at his home (La Solana Drive and Holliston Avenue) at about 12:30 Saturday afternoon.  View is of Holliston.  Bruce writes:

The theft occurred on private property and in plain view of 2 "video" signs that also get stolen from time to time. Our family walked past the area just 4 minutes earlier after having left the soon-to-be-stolen items to dry in the sun. You can see the perpetrator and his truck in the attached link from one of our property's security cameras. This event has been reported to the Altadena Sheriff. If you have any information about this loss, please contact the Sheriff at 626-798-1131. Refer to case #712-02605-0775-389. Thank you very much for your assistance.

Items stolen included laundry room shelving, five feet of electrical conduit, and a builder's level.

Crime blotter: burglaries and assaults this week

A couple of assaults-with-deadly-weapon and quite a few residential burglaries highlight the week in crime.  Crime blotter provided by Lt. Michael White of Altadena Sheriff Station 

Monday, September 24

Between 6:20 AM and 8:30 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 4200 block of Canyon Crest Road.  Suspect(s) entered the residence by removing the window screen.  Loss:  gray Magnavox 32” TV, white Nintendo Wii, black Xbox 360.  ***Suspect possibly known***

Wednesday, September 26

Between 7:30 AM and 7:00 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 1700 block of Skyview Drive.  Suspects(s) entered the residence by cutting the window screen.  Loss:  1ct. diamond earrings, pearl earrings, misc. costume jewelry.

7:00 PM – An assault with a deadly weapon (knife) occurred at George’s Liquor, 3061 Lincoln Ave.  The victim exited the vehicle and was confronted by a drunk male.  A verbal altercation ensued and the drunk male retrieved a wooden stick from his vehicle.  The victim walked away from the male and saw the male retrieve a pocketknife.  Fearing for her safety, the victim walked back to her vehicle and called the police.  Suspect described as a: male, black, 50-60 yrs, 6 ft. 2ins-6 ft. 4ins., 220-240 lbs, black hair, brown eyes, and under the influence of alcohol.  No injuries incurred.  ***Suspect possibly identified***

8:30 PM – A grand theft occurred in the 500 block of W. Woodbury Road.  Loss:  Bouche roto-hammer, red Hitachi jackhammer.

Thursday, September 27

1:20 AM – A residential burglary occurred in the 1500 block  of Atchison Street, Pasadena.  The suspect entered the residence by removing the window screen.  Loss:  none.  ***Known suspect***

Between 9:00 AM and 5:40 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 2500 block of N. Marengo Ave.  Suspect(s) entered the residence via unknown means.  Loss:  black Panasonic 46” TV.

Between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 4400 block of El Prieto Road.  Suspect(s) attempted to enter the residence by removing the window screen.  Loss:  none.

Between 11:00 AM and 3:30 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 100 block of E. Pine Street.  Suspect(s) entered the residence via the unlocked door.  Loss:  gold ring, black iPad.

3:05 PM – A petty theft occurred in the 1200 block of E. Mendocino Street.    Loss:  70lbs. of copper bars.

Friday, September 28^th

1:30 PM – An assault with a deadly weapon (tool) occurred in the 400 block of W. Loma Alta Drive.  Suspect described as a male, Hispanic, 5ft 4ins-5ft. 7ins., 160-190 lbs., brown hair, brown eyes.  A verbal altercation ensued between the suspect and the victim regarding the use of a construction tool.  The suspect became irate, grabbed a tool being used by the victim and struck the victim on the head.  ***Still attempting to identify the suspect***

Between 8:00 PM and 3:00 PM (Saturday) – A residential burglary occurred in the 200 block of W. Loma Alta Dr.  Suspect(s) entered the residence by the unsecured window.  Loss:  unknown at this time.

Saturday, September 29

Between 7:00 AM and 10:30 AM – A residential burglary occurred in the 3000 block  of Olive Avenue.  Suspect(s) entered the residence via prying the rear door.  Loss:  black computer 20”, black Vizio 34” TV, black Hannspree laptop, currency.

 

More details on Wednesday night's stolen car report

by Timothy Rutt

A Pasadena man was arrested after a deputies ran a license plate check and discovered he was in a stolen vehicle.

Alexander Carlos, 22, of  Pasadena, was arrested Wednesday night on charges of receiving stolen property and driving a vehicle without the owner's consent, according ot Lt. Michael White of the Altadena Sheriff's Station.  Carlos was taken to the jail at the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station.

According to White,  deputies stopped the gray 1997 Honda Civic at the 700 block of East Pine St. after receiving a report on a stolen vehicle at about 10:30 PM Wednesday night..  Two companions in the car with Carlos were released and not charged, White said.

 

Deputies checking out stolen car, Lake/Pine

Deputies found "a stolen car with a bunch of people in it," according to the Altadena Sheriff's Station, around Lake and Pine, 10:30 PM tonight.  We're going to check it out ....

UPDATE 11 PM: And we've returned -- the tow truck is there, lots of units, and we'll see what they say in the morning.

Crime blotter: thefts, vandalism, dognapping, plus tips on disaster preparedness

An uptick in vandalisms, and a dognapping this week, as well as some tips on disaster preparedness.   Police blotter provided by Lt. Michael White of the Altadena Sheriff Station 

Sunday, September 2

Between 6:00 PM and 2:15 PM (Monday) – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 600 block of Figueroa Drive. ***Suspect possibly known***

Monday, September 3

10:41 AM – A commercial burglary occurred at AM-PM, 1880 N. Lake Ave.  The suspect entered the location and stole several food items.  Deputies responded to the location and the suspect was taken into custody.

Between 11:00 AM and 9:00 AM (Thursday) – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 2700 block of Tola Av. 

Wednesday, September 5

Between 1:00 AM and 7:00 AM – A vandalism occurred in the 3500 block of N. Glenrose Av.  ***Suspect possibly known***

11:00 AM – A burglary from an unsecured garage occurred in the 1100 block of New York Dr.  Deputies arrived at the location and apprehended two suspects in the area.   Suspects were taken into custody.  Loss (garden equipment) was recovered and returned to victim.

6:00 PM – A petty theft occurred in the 2400 block of El Molino Avenue.  Loss:  black PlayStation.  ***Suspect known***

Thursday, September 6

10:40 AM – A vandalism occurred in the 100 block of W. Palm Street. 

10:55 AM – A vandalism occurred at Focus Point Academy, 3126 Glenrose Av.  ***Suspects identified***

Between 1:30 PM and 2:00 PM – A grand theft occurred in the 1200 block of Sagemont Place.  Loss:  (1) black/brown male Maltese, (1) brown female Maltese.  ***Dogs were possibly taken from the rear yard by known suspect***

Friday, September 7

Between 4:30 AM and 6:30 PM – A vandalism occurred in the 300 block of E. Calaveras Street. 

Between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM (Sunday) – A residential burglary occurred in the 3000 block of N. Glenrose Avenue.  Suspect(s) entered the location via unknown means.  Loss:  white GE mini refrigerator, brown w/yellow-red Schwinn bicycle, misc. currency.

Saturday, September 8

12:30 AM – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 1600 block of Sinaloa Street.  ***Suspect(s) possibly known***

Between 1:45 PM and 7:30 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 3600 block of N. Fair Oaks Avenue.  Suspect(s) entered the location via unknown means.  Loss:  black Toshiba 15” laptop, pearl earrings, diamond earrings, gold/silver Kobez men’s watch, blue soccer bag.

5:30 PM and 6:05 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 2500 block of Raymond Avenue.  Suspect(s) entered the location via the rear door.  Loss:  black Phillips 42” TV, black Acer 19” laptop.

Deputies seeking suspect in August armed robbery

 

Sheriffs are looking for the above suspect, captured on security video, in the Aug. 30 armed robbery of the Tobacco House.

 

by Timothy Rutt

The Altadena Sheriff Station is looking for a suspect in the Aug. 30 robbery of the Tobacco House, at 1920 N. Lake Avenue.

According to a news release, the suspect demanded money at gunpoint, and fled in a green 1990's model two-door Toyota Celica.

If you have any information about the pictured suspect, contact the Altadena Sheriff Station at 626- 798-1131.

Sheriffs arrest two in garage burglary

by Timothy Rutt

Altadena deputies arrested two men last week on charges related to stealing gardening equipment.

According to a press release from the Altadena Sheriff's Station, a resident heard noises in her backyard on the 1100 block of New York Drive at about 11 AM on Sept. 5.  She saw two men removing gardening equipment from an unlocked garage and called the sheriff. A 1990's white Dodge Ram van was also involved in the incident.

Deputies arrived and two men were detained and identified by the witness.

According to Lt. Michael D. White of the Altadena Sheriff's Station, the two suspects are Rodolfo Guillen, 29, and Noe Ramirez, 26, both Pasadena residents.

 

Crime blotter: don't make it easy on thieves -- lock your car

Lots of thefts from vehicles this week -- and some of the vehicles were unlocked.  It's simple to avoid these!  Crime blotter by Lt. Michael White of the Altadena Sheriff Station.

Sunday, August 26

3:00 PM – A petty theft occurred at the Altadena Golf Course, 1456 E. Mendocino Av.  Loss:  (3) gray TaylorMade golf clubs.  

Wednesday, August 29

Between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 4400 block of El Prieto Road.  Suspect(s) entered the residence by shattering a window.  Loss:  blue Toshiba laptop.

Between 10:00 AM and 5:30 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 500 block of Ventura Street.  Suspect(s) entered the location via the unlocked front door.  Loss:  black Samsung flat screen, black/gold Rado watch, white/silver MacBook. 

Thursday, August 30

4:10 PM – A robbery occurred at Tobacco House, 1920 N. Lake Av.  Suspect male, black, 21-25 years, 5 ft. 8 ins. -5 ft. 11 ins., 160-180 lbs., shaved head, wearing a dark bulky jacket w/brown fur trim and dark pants – entered the location, pulled out a handgun, and pointed it at the victim.  The suspect demanded money and the victim fearing for her safety opened the register, retrieved the money and placed it in the suspects black bag.  Suspect last seen leaving the business and entering a dark green 1990’s model Toyota Celica 2-dr. Weapon:  silver handgun. Loss: $100.00.

Between 5:30 PM and 6:00 PM – A vehicle burglary occurred at Altadena Drive & Midwick Street.  Suspect(s) entered the vehicle by shattering the front passenger window.  Loss:  personal documents.

Friday, August 31

Between 8:40 AM and 3:00 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 2500 block of N. Lincoln Ave   Suspect(s) entered the residence by kicking in the front door.  Loss:  silver MacBook, black Sony cybershot, black PS3, black Gucci watch.

Saturday, September 1

12:30 PM – A vehicle was reported stolen from the 2200 block of Lincoln Avenue.  ***Vehicle was recovered the same day in the City of Rialto***

Between 5:30 PM and 9:30 AM (Sunday) – A petty theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred in the 2800 block of Stonehill Drive.  Loss:  white Coach purse, black Lodi wallet, red eyeglasses, personal documents.

Between 6:30 PM and 7:00 PM – A vehicle burglary occurred at Roosevelt Avenue. & Altadena Drive.  Suspect(s) entered the vehicle by shattering the front passenger window.  Loss:  tan Cole Hahn purse, personal documents. 

 

Crime blotter: thefts grand and petty

Thefts of all kinds, including UPS packages from a porch mark the crime blotter this week.  Crime blotter provided by Lt. Michael D. White of the Altadena Sheriff Station.

Monday, August 20

Between 2:30 AM and 8:00 AM – A grand theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred in the 4200 block of Aralia Road.  Loss: iPad in orange case, brown Gucci aviator sunglasses, brown/gold Rayban aviator sunglasses. 

Between 2:30 AM and 8:30 AM – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 4100 block of Canyon Crest Road.  Suspect(s) entered the vehicle by prying the window and unlocking the door.  Loss:  black HP notebook, tan purse.

Between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM – A petty theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred in the 1200 block of Rubio Vista Road.  Loss:  brown/pink wallet.

Between 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM – A petty theft occurred in the 3100 block of Maiden Lane.  Loss:  beige Mini Max pool heater.

Between 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM (Tuesday) – A petty theft occurred in the 2900 block of Emerson Way.  Loss:  vehicle registration stickers. 

Tuesday, August 21

Between 2:14 PM and 3:45 PM – A petty theft from the front porch occurred in the 2000 block East Crary Street.  Loss: UPS packages containing misc. items.  

Wednesday, August 22

Between 9:30 PM and 9:45 PM – A grand theft occurred in the 2100 block of Santa Rosa Ave. Loss:  silver Pedattrian case, amplifier, Boss Fender Bass Man, black Korg pitch tuner.

Thursday, August 23

Between 12:00 PM and 2:30 PM – A petty theft occurred at Elliot Middle School, 2184 Lake Ave.  Loss:  black LG cell phone.  

Between 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 600 block of East Pine Street.  Suspect(s) entered the residence via unknown means.  Loss:  black Xbox 360.

Friday, August 24

12:00 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 100 block of West Mendocino Street.  The victim and his friend were home at the time and observed the suspect – male, black, 5 ft. 11 - 6 ft, 180-200 lbs., wearing a black shirt and blue pants, standing in the dining room.  The victim said ‘hello’ to the suspect and the suspect stated he was looking for the victim’s brother.  The suspect then left the location.  Loss:  none.  ***Suspect possibly identified***

Crime blotter: armed robber on a bicycle and more

Two burglaries on the same block of Edgecliff Lane, an armed robbery on a bicycle, and the usual rounds of home and vehicle burglaries mark the week, along with some tips for safe disposal of your drugs and sharps.  Crime blotter provided by Lt. Michael White of the Altadena Sheriff Station.

Saturday, August 11
Between 11:00 AM and 1:30 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 1400 block of Edgecliff Lane.  Suspect(s) entered the residence by shattering the rear glass door.  Loss:  none.

Monday, August 13
10:30 AM – An armed robbery occurred at Ventura Street. & Glenrose Avenue.  Suspect male, black, 15-20 yrs, 5ft. 5 in., 135 lbs., black hair, brown eyes, white t-shirt, black shorts, white Air Jordan shoes, riding a bicycle, approached the victim and asked him ‘where he was from?.’  The suspect got off his bicycle and retrieved a red pocket knife.  The victim fearing for his safety retrieved his cell phone and money and gave it to the suspect.  The suspect grabbed the items and fled eastbound on Ventura St.  Loss:  black LG Verizon cell phone, $2.00.  
10:45 AM – A petty theft of a bicycle occurred at Super King, 2260 N. Lincoln Ave.  Loss:  silver/blue Schwinn 21-speed bicycle.  Loss was unsecured.

Tuesday, August 14
Between 8:00 AM (8-5-12) and 10:00 AM (8-14-12) – A residential burglary occurred in the 1400 block of Edgecliff Lane.  Suspect(s) entered the residence by shattering the rear glass door.  Loss:  black Bushnell binoculars.

Wednesday, August 15
Between 5:00 PM and 7:15 AM (Thursday) – A petty theft occurred in the 2100 block of N. Marengo Avenue.  Loss:  construction items – (2) wood picks, (2) hammers, black wheel barrel.
Between 8:00 PM and 12:00 AM (Thursday) – A residential burglary occurred in the 2800 block of N. Marengo Avenue.  Unknown method of entry.  Loss:  Ryobi drill. Suspect possibly known.

Thursday, August 16th
2:00 AM – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 2000 block of Lovila Lane.  Suspect has been identified
Between 1:30 PM and 5:00 PM – A petty theft occurred at Burbank Elementary School, 2046 N. Allen Avenue.  Suspect(s) stole currency from the victim’s wallet which was placed in the school office.  Loss: $85.00.

Friday, August 17
Between 3:18 PM and 5:00 PM – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 2200 block of N. Altadena Drive.  Suspect(s) entered the vehicle by shattering the passenger side window.  Loss:  gold/white purse, personal docs.

Saturday, August 18
Between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM – A petty theft of a bicycle occurred in the 300 block of W. Mariposa Street.  Loss:  black w/black rims OP beach cruiser.

Safe Drug Drop-Off Boxes
The public may drop-off unused prescription drugs 24 hours a day, seven days a week at Altadena Sheriff’s station.  There are three Safe-Drug Drop-Off boxes located in front of the station.  The boxes are each labeled for prescription drugs, illegal drugs, and syringes (sharps).  Use of the Safe Drug Drop-Off boxes helps protect the environment and reduce the possibility of unused prescription drugs falling into the wrong hands.  Altadena Sheriff’s Station is located at 780 E. Altadena Dr.

 

Crime blotter: more thefts, and some advice on credit card fraud prevention

Lots of opportunistic thefts this week (unlocked doors, delivered packages), some grand thefts (including a car) and a cautionary tale not to leave a ladder out.  Crime blotter provided by Lt. Michael White of the Altadena Sheriff Station.

Sunday, August 5

Between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM – A grand theft occurred in the 1800 block of E. Altadena Drive.  Loss:  Roto tilling machine, (4) lawnmowers, (4) 1936 Ford rims.
Between 9:00 PM and 8:00 AM (Monday) – A petty theft occurred in the 2200 block of Maiden Lane.  Loss:  black Allen Sports bike rack. 
Between 10:00 PM and 8:00 AM (Monday) – A petty theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred in the 1200 block of E. Mendocino Street.  Loss:  black Android cell phone.
Between 12:30 AM and 10:00 AM – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 1700 block of E. Oakwood Street, Pasadena.  

Monday, August 6
Between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM – A petty theft occurred in the 1000 block of Marcheta St.  Loss:  packaged Dell XPS 8500 laptop. ***The victim left a note for the delivery company to leave the package at the residence without a signature***

Tuesday, August 7
2:34 PM – A robbery occurred at All Star Liquor, 2421 N. Lincoln Avenue.  Suspect male, black, 40 yrs, 5 ft. 9 in., 190 lbs., shaved head, black eyes, walked into the convenience store and retrieved a bottle of beer.  As the suspect approached the exit, the victim asked the suspect to pay for the item.  The suspect pushed the victim and attempted to strike him with the beer bottle.  Suspect last seen running out of the location.  
Between 11:30 PM and 10:00 AM (Wednesday) – A vehicle was reported stolen from the 300 block of W. Loma Alta Drive.  

Wednesday, August 8
Between 1:45 PM and 3:30 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 2600 block of Porter Avenue.  Suspect(s) entered the residence by placing a ladder under the window and removing the window screen.  Loss:  various jewelry items.
Between 6:25 PM and 10:10 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 2100 block of El Molino Avenue.  Suspect(s) entered the residence by tearing the window screen.  Loss: black Vizio LCD, black Fujitis laptop, white Xbox 360 game console, silver Mac notebook, personalized jewelry items, gold & black leather men’s watch, pearl necklace.

Thursday, August 9
Between 10:00 PM and 6:45 AM (Friday) – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 400 block of E. Woodbury Road.  Suspect(s) entered three cargo trucks by damaging the padlocks.  Loss:  blankets, ramps, dollies, wheelers, straps.

Saturday, August 11
Between 11:00 AM and 1:30 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 1400 block of Edgecliff Lane, Pasadena.  Suspect(s) entered the location by shattering the rear window.  Loss:  unknown at this time.

Suspect in west side assault gets away, deputies still looking

 by Timothy Rutt

Deputies aren't releasing many details about a reported assault that took place in west Aladena last night.

According to Sgt. Cynthia Gonzales of the Crescenta Valley sheriff's station,  deputies received a call at about 10 PM about an assault with a deadly weapon.  Gonzales said they set up a containment zone for the suspect in the area of Lincoln Ave. and West Palm St., in the Loma Alta Park neighborhood, but were unable to find him after about an hour.

At this point, deputies don't have much information or description of the suspect, victim or the weapon reportedly used, Gonzales said.

Crime blotter: it's a bad week to be a vehicle

Vehicles seem to be getting the brunt of criminal's attention this week.  Crime blotter provided by Lt. Michael White of Altadena Sheriff Station.

Sunday, July 22
Between 8:00 AM and 10:00 PM (Monday) – A petty theft from an unlocked storage occurred in the 2100 block of Marengo Avenue.  Loss:  black leaf blower.
Between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM – A petty theft occurred in the 2300 block of N. Grandeur Avenue.  Loss:  yellow & black Champion gas generator.

Monday, July 23
7:53 AM – A pink and purple Magna single speed bicycle was found in the area of Highview Avenue. & Altadena Drive.
Between 6:30 PM and 11:00 AM (Tuesday) – A petty theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred in the 2300 block of Sinaloa Avenue.  Loss: silver iPod, gray iPod Nano, currency.

Tuesday, July 24
Between 12:30 PM and 12:30 PM (Saturday) – A residential burglary occurred in the 100 block of E. Sacramento Street.  Suspect(s) entered the location by prying the front door.  Loss: none.
Between 11:00 PM and 8:00 AM (Wednesday) – A petty theft form an unlocked vehicle occurred in the 1300 block of E. Mendocino Street.  Loss:  personal documents.

Thursday, July 26
11:20 AM – A petty theft occurred at Ralph’s 2270 N. Lake Ave.  Loss:  bottle of Patron Silver tequila.

Friday, July 27
Between 7:30 PM and 11:15 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 1900 block of Allen Avenue.  Suspect(s) entered the location via the unlocked kitchen door.  Loss:  blue wallet, red wallet, black purse.
Between 10:30 PM and 1:30 AM (Saturday) – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 2000 block of E. Altadena Drive.  

Saturday, July 28
Between 1:00 AM and 6:30 AM – A residential burglary occurred in the 1300 block of Morada Place.  Suspect(s) entered the residence by cutting a portion of the screen to access and unlock the door.  Loss:  gray Toshiba laptop, black Targus computer case.
12:28 PM – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 700 block of Colman Street.  (Suspect possibly known).
10:30 PM – A vehicle was reported stolen from the 3000 block of Olive Avenue.

Altadena sheriff captain urges reporting package thefts

From John S. Benedict, Captain
Altadena Sheriff's Station

From all the chatter, I would think that we had an abundance of package and mail thefts, but we have only received a couple of reports from those of you who were victims of this form of crime.

It is imperative that you report this criminal activity so we can investigate and get a real picture of the crime trends in the community.

If you don't report criminal incidents:

1.      We can't respond appropriately with needed resources to address the problem

2.      We can't ultimately catch offenders that are victimizing our neighborhoods

3.      We can'€™t document crime trends in your area when they are occurring and we need to do that when it's beginning

4.      We can'€™t address the criminal issues proactively

5.      We can't work together with other agencies to advise them of issues they might have as well (Criminals don'€™t recognize borders)

Reporting crimes and suspicious actively and quickly to the Altadena Sheriff's Station is key to combating criminal activity in our community.

If you are among those people talking about having been a victim of parcel theft, call the Sheriff's Station as soon as possible (626-798-1131) and ask to file a report, or come to the Sheriff's Station to report it.

 

Sheriff warns about wave of package thieves

Following up on our alert earlier today that there are package thieves at work in Altadena, we've received the following from Capt. John Benedict of the Altadena Sheriff Station:

To those who shared information about package thefts from porches occurring over the last few days, thank you for alerting your neighbors by posting the info on your neighborhood listserv.

If you haven't yet called the Sheriff's Station to report the thefts, please call and provide as much information as you can, including the name of the person or company that sent you the package, the name of the delivery company, the expected date of delivery, if tracking information was available that provides a time when the package was said to have been delivered, that information would also be very help.  Please also provide information about the contents of the package and the cost of the merchandise.

Please call 626 798 1131 and ask to report the theft.

Having descriptive information can help us isolate patterns that may help us apprehend the thieves.  Having information about the merchandise that was stolen can also help us connect thieves to specific criminal acts since they're often caught in possession of stolen merchandise.

It is a good time to ask everyone to consider other options for package delivery, including these:

Crime blotter: vehicle vandalisms mark the week

A rash of vehicle vandalisms this week, and some reasons to be part of Neighborhood Watch.  Crime blotter by Lt. Michael White of Altadena Sheriff Station 

Sunday, July 15
5:00 PM – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 2500 block of N. Raymond Avenue.  (Subjects were apprehended).

Monday, July 16
Between 6:30 PM and 7:00 AM (Tuesday) – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 3600 block of Skylane Dr.  

Tuesday, July 17
Between 11:30 AM and 12:12 PM – A vehicle burglary occurred at 24Hr. Fitness (2180 N. Lincoln Av.).  Suspect(s) entered the vehicle by shattering the front passenger window.  Loss:  black purse containing personal documents.  *Loss was in plain sight (front passenger seat)*
6:00 PM and 7:00 PM – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 500 block of Royce St. (Known suspect).
9:00 PM and 9:00 AM (Wednesday) – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 2100 block of Raymond Av.

Wednesday, July 18
Between 1:30 PM and 3:00 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 1500 block of N. Allen Avenue.   Suspect(s) entered the location by shattering the rear window.  Loss:  red and black handmade rug.

Friday, July 20
7:59 PM – A vehicle was reported stolen from the 800 block of Alberta St.  
Between 8:20 PM and 8:36 PM – A petty theft occurred at Panda Express (2234 Lincoln Av.).  Loss:  black iPhone. *Loss was unattended*
9:32 PM – A petty theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred in the 1400 block of La Solana Drive.  Loss:  black Garmin GPS & charger.

*** WHY YOU NEED TO BE A PART OF A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH *****

• Neighborhood Watch is one of the most effective and least costly ways to prevent crime.
• Neighborhood Watch forges bonds among area residents.  It helps reduce neighborhood crimes and creates a partnership between law enforcement and the community.
• Neighborhood Watch fights the isolation that crime both creates and feeds upon.
• Neighbors working together in cooperation with law enforcement makes the best crime fighting team around!
• Any community resident can join a Neighborhood Watch; young or old, single or married, renter or homeowner.
• Members can learn how to make their homes more secure, watch out for each other and the neighborhood, and report suspicious activities to the Sheriff's Department.
• You can form a Neighborhood Watch group for any area:  a street, mobile home park, apartment complex, community recreation center, or park.
• Neighborhood Watch groups are not vigilantes.  They are extra eyes and ears for reporting crime and helping neighbors.
• Neighborhood Watch builds pride and serves as a springboard for efforts that address community needs.
• Citizen involvement is essential to combat this social crisis.
• Contact the Altadena Sheriff's Station for assistance in forming a Neighborhood Watch group in your area.  

 

 

 

 

Police advise awareness of cell phone thefts

by Timothy Rutt

Capt. John Benedict of the Altadena Sheriff Station said that there has been an increase in cell phone thefts, and passes along this note from the Pasadena Police Department:

Recently, the Pasadena Police Department has seen an increase in cell phone thefts in and around the Pasadena area.  Because cell phones are now an everyday part of life, and most everyone carries one, criminals are finding it easy to steal.  If your cell phone or other electronic device is stolen, it is relatively easy to clear the memory and resell the device. It is not uncommon for criminals to take your phone right out of your hands if the opportunity presents itself.

The police department has noticed several common denominators associated with the thefts.  The following safety tips may reduce the likelihood you will be a victim of this particular crime:

• Be aware of your surroundings.  Do not walk down the street talking on your phone oblivious of your environment. Thieves are looking for victims who are distracted.
• While in public, do not leave your phone unattended; put it away after use.
•  If you become a victim of a crime, call the police as soon as possible. Do not wait until you arrive at your destination.
• Activate the GPS tracking system on your phone or other electronic device.  If the device does not have a GPS tracking system, there is after-market software available. By having these applications installed on the devices, police personnel may locate the suspects and perhaps recover your phone.
• If you are a victim of a cell phone theft and see the suspect, do not attempt to recover your property.   Attempt to secure a good description of the suspect and/or any involved vehicles (license number, color, and model) and the last known direction of travel. Let the police attempt to locate and arrests the person(s) responsible.

The best preventative measure is to be aware of your surroundings.

 

Crime blotter: residential thefts continue

It's mostly residential thefts this time around.  Crime blotter by Lt. Michael White of the Altadena Sheriff Station.

Sunday, July 8

Between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM – A petty theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred in the area of Palm Street. & Lincoln Avenue.  Loss:  gray Garmin GPS, black sunglasses, coin purse.

Monday, July 9

Between 1:00 AM and 2:30 AM – A residential burglary occurred in the 700 block of W. Neldome Street.  Suspect entered the residence via the unlocked bathroom window.  Loss:  personal credit cards.  (Suspect possibly known).

Thursday, July 12

Between 9:00 PM and 9:00 AM (Friday) – A residential burglary occurred in the 2100 block of Santa Rosa Avenue.  Suspect(s) entered the residence by shattering the rear window.  Loss:  unknown.

Friday, July 13

Between 9:30 AM and 11:45 AM – A residential burglary occurred in the 2500 block of N. Altadena Dr.  Suspect(s) entered the residence by shattering the rear glass door.  Loss:  tan safe, silver serving pitcher (1950 era), personal documents.

Between 8:30 PM and 8:30 AM (Saturday) – A grand theft occurred in the 700 block of E. Pine Street.  Loss:  orange trim Harley Davidson road glide seat cushion, (2) black/orange fiberglass hard bags, black/orange touring package case.

Ex-Muir High football coach reaches plea deal in battery case

by Joe Piasecki
Pasadena Sun

The battery trial of former John Muir High School football coach Ken Howard over a classroom scuffle with a student drew to an early close on Wednesday, with Howard pleading to a lesser charge.

After pleading no contest to disturbing the peace, Howard said he was happy to end the trial but did not regret his actions during a Sept. 28 search for weapons on the campus that ended in a clash with a 16-year-old boy who had refused to be searched.

Howard faced up to a year in jail if convicted of battery on school grounds. His trial began Friday in an Alhambra courtroom and was expected to last more than two weeks.

More at the Pasadena Sun.

 

Crime up in Altadena for first half of year

by Carolyn Seitz
cmseitz@mindspring.com

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has released preliminary Crime Stats for the year to date through June 30, 2012.  You are accustomed to seeing these Stats monthly with a comparison to the same period of time for calendar year 2007 and for calendar year 2011.  The two pages below show Part 1 crime rates.

You may view the entire 119 page report on the Sheriff's Department's website here:  http://file.lacounty.gov/lasd/cms1_148405.pdf

The first page shows you how Altadena's crime rates compare to all of the areas of Los Angeles County serviced by the Sheriff's Department. You'll note that Part I crime rates have been increasing across the County in a manner consistent with increasing crime rates all over Southern California. While Altadena's Part 1 crime rates are statistically lower than they were in calendar year 2007, we continue to see an increase in residential burglary rates, vehicle burglary rates and robberies as is reflected on page two, which shows you a breakdown of all Part 1 crimes for Altadena. With respect to the number of rapes reported, unfortunately in almost every circumstance, those alleged to have committed these crimes were known to their victims. Often, they are acts of domestic violence.

The Altadena Sheriff's Station currently has additional resources deployed in Altadena with a specific goal of reducing these crime rates.  Thanks to the partnership with this community, the deputies and detectives continue to catch burglars in the act or when they're fleeing the scene of a burglary or attempted burglary, and they've been successful at catching many robbery suspects either as they're exiting the business they've just victimized, or the suspects have been caught shortly after.  The successful arrests of residential burglars is directly attributable to vigilant neighbors who've observed strange behavior (criminals in a neighbor's yard or coming out of a neighbor's yard), and the "stupid" criminals who have been attempting entry in many residences while the residents were home.  In both circumstances, quick calls to the Sheriff's Department, sometimes with very good descriptive information about the criminals has been making a difference and resulting in arrests.

We can't stress enough the importance of guarding your personal belongings so they aren't left visible in your vehicles. You've probably heard it 52 times when the Detective Lieutenant at the Altadena Sheriff's Station distributes the weekly crime blotter, and another 12 times when these crime stats are released, but the rate of thefts from vehicles continues to escalate and as the blotter informs us, people are losing some very expensive items from their vehicles. Don't set yourself up to be a victim.   Please keep your valuables out of sight or out of your vehicle altogether.

Please continue to report suspicious activity.  The Station's number is 626 798 1131.  Please also take a look around your yard and driveway, or wherever it is you park your vehicles. If you park in your garage, you're less likely to be a victim of vehicle theft, especially if your garage is also locked. If you don't have motion activated lights that would light up your driveway, entry door areas, rear of your home and side yards, you might consider installing them.  The motion sensors can often be adjusted so a dog, cat, opossum, skunk or raccoon wouldn't trigger the light, but a criminal would.

Please continue to stay vigilant and stay safe - and call the Station early and often!!

--------

Carolyn Seitz is a public safety volunteer and Altadena's Citizen of the Year for 2010.

 

ALD CrimeStats 063012 A

Three juveniles in custody after burglary call Monday afternoon

by Timothy Rutt

Altadena sheriff's deputies have booked three male juveniles following a call on an attempted burglary Monday afternoon.

Lt. Elisabeth Sachs of the Crescenta Valley Sheriff Station said that the call went out on a possible burglary at the 1900 block of E. Washington Blvd. at 12:49 this afternoon.  The call said that two juveniles had tried to burglarize the location and were last seen running.

Deputies set up a containment, and the three suspects were arrested.  They are in the process of being booked at Crescenta Valley Station as of 3:30 this afternoon, Sachs said.

Crime blotter: armed robbers net $400

An armed robbery, a couple of stolen vehicles this week, along with the usual run of residential and vehicle burglaries.  Altadena crime blotter by Lt. Michael White of Altadena Sheriff Station.

Sunday, June 17
Between 5:30 PM and 12:10 AM (Friday) – A residential burglary occurred in the 1700 block of Atchison Street.  Suspect(s) entered the residence through the bathroom window.  Loss:  $500.00.

Monday, June 18
Between 8:00 PM and 9:00 AM (Tuesday) – A petty theft occurred in the 3100 block of Rubio Canyon Road.  Loss:  brown KHS SC400 Urban Stream bicycle.  

Tuesday, June 19
7:53 AM – A vehicle was reported stolen in the area of Crosby Street. and Lincoln Avenue.  The vehicle was recovered on 6/20/12 in Los Angeles.   
Between 12:20 PM and 4:00 PM – A vehicle burglary occurred in the area of Lake Avenue. and Loma Alta Drive.  Suspect(s) entered the vehicle by shattering the front passenger window.  Loss:  silver Disney Mickey Mouse purse, blue Canon digital camera.

Wednesday, June 20
Between 11:15 AM and 12:25 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 1300 block of E. Altadena Drive.  Suspect(s) entered the residence by removing the kitchen window screen.  Loss:  blue Rolex watch, black Zenith watch, brown fur coat, gold Cartier watch, white Macintosh computer, white MacBook Air, black Sony camera, black Nikon camera, silver Cisco flip camera, black camera bag, silver candlestick holders.

Thursday, June 21
1:15 PM – A robbery occurred in the 2200 block of E. Washington Boulevard.  The victim was sitting in the front passenger side of the vehicle and was approached by two males.  Suspect #1 male black, 20-22 years, about 5 ft. 6 ins., thin build, brown sunglasses, black t-shirt, black/white long sleeve shirt, faded blue jeans, approached the victim with a silver handgun and demanded the money.  Suspect #2 male black, 20-22 years, about 5 ft. 6 ins., red t-shirt and blue jeans, grabbed the money from the victim while suspect #1 held the handgun to the victim’s chest.  Suspects last seen eastbound on Washington Boulevard.  Loss:  $400.00.
Between 10:30 PM and 10:00 AM (Friday) – A petty theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred in the 700 block of Deodara Dr.  Loss:  pink sunglasses, black shoes, Kitchen Aid culinary set.

Friday, June 22
Between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 400 block of Alberta Street.  Suspect(s) entered the location via the unlocked rear door.  Loss:  white iPhone, black iPhone.
2:00 PM – A commercial burglary occurred at Unlimited Cellular – 431 E. Woodbury Road.  The suspect entered the location and asked to see an item behind the counter.  The clerk turned around to retrieve the item and the suspect grabbed a plastic container placed on the counter.   Suspect described as a male black, 20-25 years, 5 ft. 10 ins., 170 lbs., brown hair, brown eyes, last seen running from the location eastbound on Woodbury Road.  Loss:  $250.00.

Saturday, June 23
9:45 AM – A vehicle was reported stolen from the 1600 block of N. Allen Avenue.  The vehicle was recovered on 6/23/12 in Pasadena.  

Blotter: burglaries, of course

Residential and automobile burglaries this week, with an add soupçon of stolen handguns. Blotter by Lt. MIchael White of Altadena Sheriff Station.

Wednesday, June 13
11:45 PM –  Vandalism occurred at Arco – 1880 N. Lake Av.   

Thursday, June 14
Between 9:10 AM and 7:30 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 100 block of E. Pine St.  Suspect(s) entered the residence via the unsecured window.  Loss:  gold purse.
Between 8:00 PM and 8:00 AM (Friday) – A petty theft of vehicle parts occurred in the 3000-blk of Santa Anita Av.  Loss:  black Yakima vehicle roof rack.
Between 11:00 PM and 9:30 AM (Friday) – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 100-blk of W. Figueroa Dr.

Friday, June 15
5:45 AM – An attempt robbery occurred in the 1700 block of N. Oxford Avenue.  The suspect arrived at the residence and demanded money from his father; the victim.  The victim refused to provide money and the suspect became threatening.  Loss:  none.  
Between 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM – A residential burglary occurred in the 2500 block of Marengo Ave.  Suspect(s) entered the residence via the rear door.  Loss:  black Sig Sauer, model P220 handgun, silver Smith & Wesson, model 686 revolver, black gun safe.
Between 9:30 AM and 5:00 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 500 block of Crosby Street.  Suspect(s) entered the residence via the unsecured rear window.  Loss:  Panasonic Viera 47” LCD, grey iMac 21”.
1:20 PM – A bicycle was recovered in the area of Woodbury Road & Raymond Avenue.  Property description:  red & black Schwinn bicycle.
Between 7:00 PM and 10:00 AM (Saturday) – A vehicle burglary occurred in the area of Highland Avenue & Altadena Drive.  Suspect(s) entered the vehicle by shattering the front passenger side window.  Loss:  black duffle bag.
Between 8:00 PM and 2:20 AM (Saturday) – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 1700 block of Mar Vista Avenue.  Suspect(s) entered the vehicle by shattering the driver’s side window.  Loss:  black Magellan GPS, black power cord.

Breaking: deputies looking for suspects in robbery at Washington and Craig

by TImothy Rutt

Altadena sheriff's deputies are searching for two armed robbery suspects in the Washington and Craig area.  

According to the Altadena Sheriff's Station, the call came in at about 1:30 this afternoon and the suspects, both described as black males, split up.  More as we get it.

If you see anything, call the Altadena Sheriff's Station at 798-1131.

UPDATE 5 PM: We have more details from the Altadena Sheriff Station: the two suspects approached two women in a car, displayed a handgun, and took $400 in cash.  Suspects were last seen running eastbound, and are still at large.

Pasadena police make arrest in Saturday shooting of Altadena man

by Adolfo Flores
Pasadena Sun

Pasadena detectives arrested a 24-year-old Chino man in the shooting of an Altadena man early Saturday.

Vernon Woods faces a charge of attempted murder for shooting Deontrae Lutton, 20, of Altadena Saturday at about 2 a.m. in the 800 block of Summit Avenue.

Lutton continues to be listed in critical condition from the multiple gunshot wounds he sustained in the shooting. Witnesses and other information led authorities to Woods, said Pasadena Lt. Phlunte Riddle.

More at the Pasadena Sun.

 

 

Crime blotter: vehicle burglaries, suspected perps caught

An awful lot of vehicle burglaries this week, some centered on the President Streets. Crime blotter by Lt. Michael White of the Altadena Sheriff Station.

Monday, June 4
5:40 PM – A vehicle burglary occurred in the area of Crosby Street. & Lincoln Avenue.  Deputies contacted a male, Hispanic, 23 years, 5'10", 190 lbs., brown hair, brown eyes who was observed pulling on the door handle of a parked vehicle.  During the contact, a victim identified the male as the same suspect who broke into her vehicle a short time prior.  Suspect was taken into custody.   Loss: None.

Tuesday, June 5
Between 9:00 PM and 7:00 AM (Wednesday) – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 200 block of W. Harriet Street.
Between 9:30 PM and 8:00 AM (Wednesday) – A residential burglary occurred in the 1500 block of Creekside Court.  The suspect(s) entered the garage via the unsecured door.  Loss:  grey Panasonic tape deck, silver storage case, grey/blue vacuum cleaner canister. (Items were recovered)
Between 10:30 PM and 11:00 AM (Wednesday) – Two vehicle burglaries occurred in the 1700 block of N. Harding Avenue.  Suspect(s) entered the vehicle by punching the door lock.  Loss:  various cd’s, vehicle registration.
Between 11:45 PM & 8:40 AM (Wednesday) – A vehicle was reported stolen from the 1800 block of N. Harding Ave.  

Wednesday, June 6
5:14 AM – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 1700 block of N. Harding Avenue.  Deputies responded to the area after citizens reported observing a male retrieving item(s) from the trunk of the vehicle.  Deputies detained the male and subsequently took him into custody.  During the investigation, detectives learned  the suspect was involved in several incidents that occurred during the early morning hours.   
Between 9:00 PM and 5:30 AM (Thursday) – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 400 block of Concha Street.  Suspect(s) entered the vehicle by shattering the driver’s side window.  Loss:  black Surefire flashlight, misc. currency.  
Between 5:30 PM and 7:15 AM (Thursday) – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 100 block of E. Las Flores Street.  Suspect(s) entered the vehicle by prying the driver’s side window.  Loss:  black nylon pack with wheels, black sunglasses with case.

Thursday, June 7
Between 8:40 AM and 4:00 PM – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 800 block of E. Sacramento Street.
Between 10:00 AM and 12:45 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 2400 block of Midlothian Drive.  Suspect(s) entered the residence by shattering the rear sliding glass doors.  Loss:  silverware set, paintings.
Between 9:00 PM and 7:30 AM (Friday) – A grand theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred in the 1400 block of Braeburn Road.  Loss:  black iPad, silver Dell Inspiron laptop.  
Between 11:45 and 8:00 AM (Friday) – A petty theft from two unlocked vehicles occurred in the 400 block of W. Ventura Street.  Loss:  misc. currency.

Friday, June 8
12:15 AM – An unlocked vehicle tampering occurred in the 2600 block of Lincoln Ave.  
1:15 AM – A petty theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred in the 400 block of W. Calaveras Street.  Loss:  checkbook.
6:00 AM – Deputies responded to the area of Fair Oaks Ave. and Terrace St. regarding a possible burglary suspect.  Upon arrival, deputies contacted a male who matched the description.  Upon further investigation, it was learned the male was responsible for several of the incidents which occurred during the early morning hours.  Suspect was taken into custody.  
Between 4:30 PM and 9:30 AM (Saturday) – A residential burglary occurred in the 2500 block of Page Street.  Suspect(s) entered the residence via unknown method.  Loss:  antique silver household goods, platinum diamond encrusted watch with a rectangular face.  (Possible distraction burglary).
Between 8:40 AM and 9:00 AM – A grand theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred in the 1900 block of Pepper Drive.  Loss:  red Honda lawnmower, red leaf blower.
7:50 PM – A commercial burglary occurred at the Arco Gas Station, 1880 N. Lake Avenue.  The suspect entered the location and used an unknown object to break the plastic display of cigarettes.  The suspect was described as a male, African-American, 5'11", 160 lbs., brown hair, brown eyes, wearing a black jacket and dark pants.  Suspect last seen eastbound on New York Dr.  Loss: one pack of Newport cigarettes.  

 

Distraction burglars targeting seniors, says crime analyst

This message is going out among the newsgroups from Altadena Sheriff Station's crime analyst, Virginia Cordova:

Just wanted to share some info with everyone. Distraction Burglaries are occurring throughout the county and most are targeting seniors.  As of June 1, Altadena has received two reports of distraction burglaries – the first incident involved three male Hispanics in a dark green pickup truck and the second involved a male Caucasian who claimed to be  with Southern California Edison, in a white pickup truck.  At this time, I’m still trying to verify if the second male was an employee of So. Cal. Ed.  And lastly, please be aware of your surroundings and ask individuals for identification if they claim to be representatives of a company.  

 If you have any questions, concerns, etc…please feel free to contact me via email or phone: 626-296-2110.  

Thanks to citizen's tip, sheriffs nab burglary suspect [UPDATE]

by Timothy Rutt

Here's a day brightener for your morning:

One of our friends and community correspondents said she was out on her porch, about to take the dog for a walk, when a truck pulled in front of her house and a tall man came out and approached her:

He walked in front of his truck onto our front lawn, and he proceeded to walk towards me.  I asked him if there was anything I can do to help him.  He stopped and then started walking towards me again.  I told him that was far enough.  I asked him if I could help him.  He told me that there was a burglar on the run and that he's looking for him.  I ask him if he called the cops.  He said, "I am the cops!"  I asked him to tell me what the guy was wearing. 

The man said he was looking for an African American man with a red shirt, then got in his car and drove the next block up.  She continues:

I crossed the street to walk northbond on Fair Oaks towards Altadena Drive, and then I saw a black guy with a red shirt on, hiding in the bushes.  When the public transportation bus approached this crook, the guy jumped out of the bushes, began waving his hands feaverishly, running faster than I've seen any guy run in my life to catch a public bus, trying to flag the bus down. The bus stopped and he caught the bus.

Seconds later, I saw the guy who said he was a cop, and I got his attention, as I pointed to the burglar running.  The (off-duty cop) pulled around in front of me and I told him what I saw.  He pulled out his cb radio and called other cops -- cops came out of the woodwork it seemed! --  and chased the bus down.  I believe they caught the guy too!

Thought I'd share.  Glad I had the sense of mind to question this off-duty cop about the description, etc.  I feel like I helped the community!

We've got a call in to the sheriffs to get more details, but we love citizens who keep their eyes open.

UPDATE: Lt. Michael White of the Altadena Sheriff Station says that Darren Bagby, 34, of Altadena, was arrested on the 3200 block of N. Fair Oaks Ave. White said that Bagby, a parolee known to the local deputies, was spotted by a deputy tugging on a car door as though to open it at about 6 AM this morning.  White said that Bagby fled the deputies and was caught running home -- White did not know if Bagby had been taken from the bus.

Bagby was charged with battery on a peace officer, being under the influence of a controlled substance, and resisting arrest.

We've changed the headline to reflect new information.

Kids are out of school -- help keep them on the right road

by Carolyn Seitz
cmseitz@mindspring.com

The incident related below is from a resident in north central Altadena and I thank the person who wrote it for sharing the details they do.  

It is a good idea to understand how difficult it can be to tell the difference between kids being kids and kids and kids being criminals in support of their gang.

Please read what is written below and think about what you would do when you observe the same thing several people in this neighborhood observed today.

Captain Benedict, Lieutenant White and Lieutenant Allen are asking you to please call the Sheriff's Station when you see this kind of behavior.

It's better to call the station and let the deputies find out that the kids were just being kids, than it is to determine later that your neighbor suffered a break-in and loss of their valuables because they weren't kids just being kids, they really were an organized group of criminals, likely working in service to their gang.

Despite how young they might look, it is not unusual to have 12 to 16 year olds committing crimes for their gangs because the older gangsters know that they'll be treated as juveniles and get the equivalent of an adult wagging their finger at them telling them, "naughty, naughty!! Don't do that again!".

Why take a chance that they might have been up to no good?

Please also help us get these kids on the right track as early as possible when they may very well be 10 or 11 or 12 years old and are already making poor decisions and committing crimes.

Many thanks to the person who shared the info below.& Call the Sheriff's Station at 626 -798-1131 -- and call early and often when you see this kind of behavior.  It's summer.  School's out and some kids will be tempted to stray.

It may sound odd, but please help these kids.  Call! You could be saving a kid who's walking on the edge.

About 4:00 PM today, my mom and I heard someone shouting outside and we thought it might be our neighbor Joe across the street. When we went outside, there was a young Latino kid in his teens, sitting on a bike outside G***'s house. He was calling to some unseen person nearby. As my mom watched, the kid on the bike rode further down the street to join two other Latino youths on bikes, sitting outside another neighbor's house. Mom said it looked as though one of them came from behind the neighbor's house. Then they rode off down the street. Don't know if the kid on the bike was a lookout for a break-in, I don't want to draw conclusions or make assumptions. Could be nothing, but just be careful. If anyone knows them, please let us know. It just looked odd.

Deputies arrest burglary suspect at Glen Canyon and Roosevelt Wednesday morning

 

Sheriff's deputies round up a burglary suspect Wednesday morning. Photos by Steve and Judy Bass.

Community correspondants Steve and Judy Bass caught this one this morning:

 This morning at 7:30 AM, at the intersection of Glen Canyon and Roosevelt, Sheriffs deputies caught a man suspected of breaking into numerous vehicles. He was handcuffed, sitting in the back seat of a patrol car, and looking quite glum.

He was driving a late model, black pickup.

Deputies reported that they'd been tracking the man since 5:00 AM. They said they recovered lots of stolen items.

Score one for the Altadena Sheriff's department.

 

Suspect's vehicle stopped by deputies.

Deputies arrested suspected burglar at about 7:30 this morning.

 

 

Sheriffs warn of distraction burglars at large

We received this message from Virginia Cordova, crime analyst at Altadena Sheriff Station, about some recent crimes and suspects :

We recently received a report of a distraction burglary (definition: suspect(s) contact the victim who’s home – begins talking to them while the other suspect(s) enter the residence and begin searching for items). The incident occurred on June 2 between the hours of 2:30 PM and 4:00 PM in the 200 block of Ventura Street – suspects described as:

- Male, Hispanic, 30 yrs, 507, 150, brown hair, brown eyes

- Male, Hispanic, 30 yrs, 509, 170, brown hair, brown eyes

- Male, Hispanic, 30 yrs, 509, 180, brown hair, brown eyes

- Suspect Vehicle: green Dodge truck

As for vehicle burglaries the only suspect info we’ve received is as follows:

- Male, White, 37 yrs, 511, 180, dark hair, unshaven, black beanie with a bill, multicolor jacket, blue jeans.

- Suspect Vehicle: late model gray Mercedes, possibly 2007.

If you have information regarding the above descriptions, please feel free to call or email me.  Distraction burglaries are fairly common and have been seen throughout the County. Please remain vigilant and if you notice anything out of the ordinary, please contact the station at: 626-798-1131.

Crime blotter: vehicle burglar driving a Mercedes

Lots of vehicle vandalisms and a burglar driving a Mercedes this week.  Crime blotter provided by Lt. Michael White of Altadena Sheriff Station.

Sunday, May 20th
Between 12:30 AM and 8:30 AM – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 2000 block of E. Washington Boulevard.  
Between 5:00 PM and 10:00 AM (Tuesday) – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 2000 block of Maiden Lane.  Suspect possibly known by victim.

Monday, May 21st
Between 8:00 AM and 11:40 AM – A petty theft of a bicycle occurred at Eliot Middle School, 2184 N. Lake Ave.  Loss:  bicycle was recovered.

Wednesday, May 23rd
Between 7:45 AM and 4:30 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 2300 block of Glen Canyon Road. Suspect(s) entered the location via the window.  Loss:  silver w/coral stones bracelet, silver w/turquoise stones bracelet and US coins.
Between 6:30 PM and 6:53 AM (Thursday) – A business burglary occurred in the 2000 block of N. Lake Avenue.  Suspect(s) entered the location through an unlocked window.  Loss:  Bank of America cashier’s check.
Between 8:00 PM and 10:00 AM (Thursday) – A petty theft from a business occurred in the 2200 block of Lincoln Avenue.  Loss:  (1) parking sign.

Friday, May 25th
4:50 PM – A shoplifting incident occurred at Super King Market, 2260 N. Lincoln Ave.  *Items recovered and suspect arrested.
Between 7:00 PM and 8:45 PM – A petty theft occurred at 24Hr. Fitness, 2180 N. Lincoln Ave.  Suspect(s) entered the men’s locker room and broke the padlock of a secured locker.  Loss:  brown bi-fold wallet containing US currency and personal documents.
Between 7:00 PM and 12:00 PM (Saturday) – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 900 block of E. Poppyfields Dr.  Suspect(s) entered the vehicle by shattering the driver’s side window.  Loss:  pink iPod Nano.

Saturday, May 26th
Between 3:00 AM and 9:30 AM – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 1000 block of Dolores Drive.  Suspect(s) entered the vehicle by shattering the driver’s side window.  Loss:  US currency.
7:35 PM – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 2200 block of Altadena Drive.  Suspect entered the vehicle by shattering the rear driver’s side window.  Suspect described as:  male, Caucasian, 37 yrs, 511, 180, dark hair, unshaven, black beanie, multicolor jacket, and blue jeans.  Suspect vehicle:  gray 2007 Mercedes; vehicle last seen eastbound on Altadena Drive.  Loss:  silver Michael Kors woman’s watch and dark blue jeans.
Between 8:00 PM and 10:30 AM (Sunday) – A vehicle vandalism occurred in the 600 block of W. Ventura Street.  
Between 8:00 PM and 8:00 AM (Sunday) – A residential burglary occurred in the 2400 block of N. Highland Avenue.  Suspect(s) entered the residence via unknown means.  Loss:  white gold diamond ring-round cut.
Between 11:45 PM and 6:45 AM (Sunday) – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 500 block of W. Figueroa Drive.  Suspect(s) entered the vehicle by punching the door lock.  Loss:  green iPod Nano, black leather briefcase, notary journal and notary stamp pad.

 

Sheriff looking for ARCO attempted robbery suspect

by Timothy Rutt

   Sheriffs deputies are asking for the public's help in the the search for suspect with a handgun who attempted to rob the ARCO station at 1633 N. Altadena Drive.

According to a release from the sheriff's department, the suspect entered the station on May 12 at about 9:20 PM.  

The release says  the suspect "removed a handgun from his pocket and pointed it at the victim who was standing behind the cashier counter.  The victim believe the suspect was trying to scare him and he asked the suspect to leave.  The suspect walked around the counter and struck the victim twice in the head with the handgun.  The suspect left the location in an unknown direction."

If you have any information on the identity of the suspect, please contact the Altadena Sheriff's Station direct line at 626-798-1131 and ask for Det. Brett Binder, or call Binder at his direct line: 626-296-2114.

 

Crime blotter: attempted armed robbery, lots of break-ins

More crime in the commercial center this week: attempted armed robbery, commercial burglaries, as well as the usual residental and vehicle burglaries.  Crime blotter by Lt. Michael White of Altadena Sheriff Station. 

Monday, May 14
Between 11:00 PM and 7:30 AM (Tuesday) – A vehicle burglary occurred in the 1800 block of Midlothian Drive. Suspect(s) entered the vehicle via unknown means. Loss: orange iPod Nano, vehicle documents, black backpack. 

Tuesday, May 15t
9:20 PM – An attempted robbery occurred at the Arco Gas Station, 1633 N. Altadena Dr. The suspect entered the location, retrieved a handgun from his waistband and pointed it at the victim. The victim believed the suspect was trying to scare him and he told the suspect to leave. The suspect walked around the counter and struck the victim twice in the head. Suspect last seen leaving the area in an unknown direction. Suspect described as: male, Hispanic, 25-30 yrs, 5 ft. 11 ins., 190 lbs., wearing a black beanie, grey hooded sweatshirt, grey sweatpants, and black converse. Weapon: black semi-automatic. Loss: none. 
Between 6:40 PM and 4:55 AM (Wednesday) – A commercial burglary occurred at the North Pasadena Medical Center, 2052 N. Lake Ave. Suspect(s) entered the location via unknown means. Loss: unknown. 

Wednesday, May 16
Between 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 2500 block of Catherine Road. Suspect(s) attempted to enter the residence by climbing a ladder and opening the rear window which was previously shattered. As the suspect(s) attempted to open the window, the alarm motion sensor detected movement and activated the audible burglar alarm. Loss: none. 
Between 8:00 PM and 6:30 AM (Thursday) – A commercial burglary occurred at Altadena Elementary School, 743 E. Calaveras St. Suspect(s) entered the location by shattering a window. Loss: none. 

Friday, May 18
Between 7:15 AM and 7:30 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 2700 block of Olive Avenue. Suspect(s) entered the location via the rear door by using bodily force. Loss: none. 
Between 1:40 PM and 1:45 PM – A petty theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred in the parking lot of Rite Aid, 735 E. Altadena Dr. Loss: silver wallet. (Plain sight).

Man shot, deputies investigating in Mariposa/Fair Oaks neighborhood [UPDATED]

by Timothy Rutt

One man was hit in a shooting this afternoon, and so far he isn't talking, according to the sheriffs.

Lt. Elisabeth Sachs of the Crescenta Valley sheriff station said that the victim is in stable condition at a local hospital and is "not forthcoming with information," she said.  The call came into the sheriffs at about 2:45 PM.

Mariposa Street between Fair Oaks Avenue and Highview was blocked off and evidence tags, such as used to identify placement of shell casings, were placed inside the perimeter, according to neighbors who've contacted Altadenablog.

Sachs said that the suspects are described as two black males, who left the scene in a vehicle of unknown description heading in an unknown direction.

UPDATE 5/22: Lt. Michael White of Altadena Sheriff Station said that they are putting the location of the shooting at Mariposa and McNally.  Sheriffs still aren't revealing much information while the investigation is ongoing, but White said that it was believed to be gang-related.

 

Crime blotter: residential burglaries all over this week

It's all (mostly!) about residential burglaries this week, with a robbery mixed in.  Crime blotter by Lt. Duane D. Allen of Altadena Sheriff Station.

Sunday, May 6
Between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 200 block of W. Palm Street.  Suspect(s) entered the location by shattering the rear windows.  Loss:  unknown.
Between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM (Thursday) – A residential burglary occurred in the 3200 block of Lincoln Avenue.  Suspect(s) entered the residence through the rear kitchen door (no signs of forced entry).  Loss:  blue/gray Bosch band saw, blue/gray Bosch 10-in. mitre saw.

Monday, May 7
11:40 AM – A residential burglary occurred in the 1000 block of Morada Placel.  The victim heard the doorbell ring and observed a female on the property by the use of a surveillance camera.  A few minutes later, the victim heard a loud noise emitting from the bathroom and encountered the suspect (male) attempting to climb through the window.  Suspect #1 described as a male, African-American, 30 yrs, 5ft. 8 ins. to 6 ft., 160 lbs., black w/white emblem baseball cap, white w/black stripe polo shirt, dark jeans;  suspect #2 described as a female, African-American, 25-30 yrs, yellow or white t-shirt, dark pants.  Suspect #1 last seen entering a silver BMW with Georgia state license plate(s) heading northbound on Lewis Av. and out of view.  Loss:  none.

Tuesday, May 8
Between 7:15 AM and 7:30 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 100 block of W. Terrace Street.  Suspect(s) entered the residence by opening the kitchen window.  Loss:  unknown.  (Per a neighbor – two male, Hispanics, early 20’s, were observed loitering to the front of the residence, no further info. available).
Between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM – A residential burglary occurred in the 1100 block of New York Drive.  Suspect(s) entered the residence by prying the window.  Loss:  misc. currency.  
Between 6:45 PM and 7:15 AM (Wednesday) - A vehicle was reported stolen from the 3000 block of Maiden Lane. Vehicle was recovered by LASD Temple Station.
Between 7:00 PM and 5:45 AM (Wednesday) – A grand theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred in the 2000 block of Maiden Lane.  Loss:  leather Rawlings briefcase, silver iPod shuffle.  

Wednesday, May 9
Between 5:00 PM and 5:00 PM (Thursday) – A residential burglary occurred in the 1200 block of E. Mendocino Drive.  Suspect(s) entered the residence by shattering the rear glass French doors.  Loss:  unknown.

Thursday, May 10
2:15 PM – A robbery occurred at Focus Point Academy, 119 W. Palm St.  Subjects were apprehended by deputies and taken into custody.

Friday, May 11
Between 9:00 PM and 7:00 AM (Saturday) – A petty theft from an unlocked vehicle occurred in the 1700 block of Craig Avenue.  Loss:  gray Garmin GPS.

Saturday, May 12
Between 9:05 PM and 10:15 PM – A vehicle vandalism occurred at 24Hr. Fitness, 2180 N. Lincoln Ave.