Suspects accused of trying to steal historic light posts in Pasadena

PASADENA -- Police chased down and arrested two men suspected of trying to steal a historic bronze light pole from a Pasadena neighborhood early Saturday with the help of some vigilant city workers, authorities said.
Frank Bise, 44, of Lancaster, and Steven Dickinson, 52, of Los Angeles were arrested in connected with the 5:45 a.m. theft attempt near Orange Grove Boulevard and Bellevue Drive, according to police and sheriff's booking records.
After a historic bronze light pole was discovered stolen Friday morning, a crew of Pasadena Public Works workers decided to start their day early to "take a look around" for anything suspicious, Pasadena police Lt. Chris Russ said.
"They probably didn't think they were actually going to witness the guys stealing the light poles," he said, but that's exactly what happened.
The workers spotted a white van being used to push over a light pole and used their radio to contact police.
Officer spotted the van in the area and chased it down the 110 Freeway before it exited at Avenue 50, continued fleeing and crashed into a garage at Aldama Street and Avenue 52 in Highland Park, Russ said.
The occupants of the car fled on foot, he added. Pasadena and Los Angeles police arrested Bise and Dickinson in the area. The van was determined to have been stolen from South Pasadena.
Police were working to link the suspects to Friday's pole theft as well, Russ said. Anyone who saw a white Chevrolet Astro van with a cargo rack on the top and nylon straps that appeared to be holding the back doors closed in the early morning hours Friday is asked to call Pasadena police.
The poles targeted Friday and Saturday weigh an estimated 300 to 400 pounds, officials said.
When stolen or damaged, the city replaces them with aluminum replicas at a cost of about $3,000, Russ said.
"The bronze ones can't be replaced," he added.
The value and historical significance of the posts grossly overshadows money crooks may be able to make by recycling their metal, he said.
It would be far too expensive to have bronze replicas of the 8-foot tall, 300-400 pound light posts made to ask it of taxpayers, Pasadena spokeswoman Ann Erdman said.
Installed in the late-1920s, "They're historic and irreplaceable," Erdman said.
Friday and Saturday's thefts were not the first time thieves have tried to make off with the antique light poles from the neighborhood.
"There have been about 15 stolen in the past two years," Erdman said.
The bronze pole that was knocked down early Saturday was put back in its place by Saturday afternoon, officials said.
Erdman said she was pleased that city workers and police, working together, were able to work together to prevent another light pole theft.
"We are not going to let people go unpunished for stealing Pasadena's historic heritage," she said. "The eyes of the City of Pasadena are watching."
Bise was booked on suspicion of grand theft, felony evading and a parole violation, while Dickinson was booked on suspicion of grand theft, felony evading and an outstanding warrant for driving on a suspended license, police said.
According to sheriff's booking records, Bise was being held without bail, and Dickinson was being held in lieu of $105,000 bail. Information regarding their initial court appearances was not available Saturday.

PHOTO of lightposts along Orange Grove Boulevard in Pasadena courtesy of Eric Reed, Staff Photographer