SIERRA MADRE >> Police investigating a suspicious person seen loitering outside a Sierra Madre home arrested a man driving around with a replica firearm and two masks in an SUV with its license plate removed late Tuesday, police said.
Anthony Luke Madrid, 20, whose city of residence was unclear, was booked on suspicion of an outstanding warrant from San Bernardino County, as well as possession of an imitation firearm with it’s orange safety tip removed, Sierra Madre police officials said in a written statement.
The arrest took place about 1 p.m. after a resident of the 2000 block of Liliano Drive reported seeing a suspicious person via her “Ring” video doorbell system, according to the statement.
“ When viewing the live stream video, the resident saw a male Hispanic in his 20s walk up to the porch, look to the left, then to the right and flee on foot, eastbound down the driveway of her home and enter the driver-side door of a Range Rover with paper plates,” the statement said.
Responding officers found an SUV matching the description nearby and pulled it over.
After stopping the vehicle for displaying no license plates, police discovered the driver, Madrid, had an outstanding warrant out of San Bernardino County, officials said.
While searching the vehicle, police found an imitation firearm with the orange safety tip removed, along with two masks and the license plates belonging to the SUV, police said.
Police cautioned residents to be cautious of so-called “knock-knock burglaries.”
“While not a new technique, ‘knock-knock burglars’ driving luxury cars are believed to be targeting affluent neighborhoods in the San Gabriel Valley,” according to the statement. “Often times, burglars make phone calls into homes before breaking in and a majority of them travel in luxury cars with paper plates.”
Anyone who spots something suspicious can reach Sierra Madre police at 626-355-1414. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

PHOTOS courtesy of the Sierra Madre Police Department