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PASADENA -- Police jailed a local man early Saturday on suspicion of burglarizing a Lake Avenue pharmacy, authorities said.
Anthony Harris, 52, was booked on suspicion of burglary, Pasadena police Lt. Diego Torres said.
Officers responded to a burglary alarm about 2:30 a.m. at CVS Pharmacy, 900 N. Lake Ave., had been smashed, the lieutenant said.
Harris was spotted inside, and surrendered to officers who ordered him out of the business, he said.
It appeared that Harris had been filling a bag with merchandise from the store, Torres added.
He was being held in lieu $21,683 bail at the Pasadena Police Department's jail pending his initial court appearance, according to county booking records.
SANTA FE SPRINGS -- Two men are in custody and a third was being sought Wednesday after a break-in at a medical marijuana dispensary, police said.
Germell Miles, 35, of Los Angeles and Bryan Adams, 25, of Hawthorne were booked on suspicion of burglary, Whittier police Lt. Randy Inman said.
Officers responded to a burglary call about 1:30 a.m. at the dispensary on Los Nietos Road, just west of Norwalk Boulevard, according to the lieutenant.
Three suspects ran when police arrived, he said.
Officers found two of the men during a search of the area, Inman said. One was arrested with the use of a police K-9 and was treated for dog bites before being taken to jail.
Police also impounded the suspects' car, which was left at the scene of the burglary when they fled, the lieutenant said.
It was not clear whether any marijuana had been stolen or recovered, police said.
According to county booking records, Miles was released from jail Wednesday after posting $20,000 bail, while Adams was being held without bail pending his initial court appearance.
PASADENA -- Police arrested three teens Tuesday on suspicion of breaking into an apartment.
Officers responded to a report of a break-in about 1:45 p.m. at an apartment in the area of Mentor Avenue and California Boulevard, Pasadena police Lt. Jari Faulkner said.
Police cordoned off the area and performed a search with the help of a police helicopter and K-9, ultimately finding the three 16-year-old Pasadena teens hiding in the neighborhood, the lieutenant said. They were arrested without a struggle.
Cash and jewelry believed to have been taken from the apartment was recovered, she added.
Police instructed nearby Polytechnic School to keep students inside during the search as a precaution, Faulkner said.
GLENDORA -- A woman's tip Tuesday led police to arrest three teenagers in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant on suspicion of breaking into a home in Azusa, officials said.
Brian Ibarra, 18, of Anaheim, a 17-year-old boy from Anaheim and a 17-year-old boy from Santa Ana were arrested on suspicion of residential burglary and possession of stolen property, Glendora police Lt. Jamie Caldwell said.
A woman called police about 12:20 p.m. to report seeing something suspicious -- three young men going through women's purses while sitting in a car parked at In-N-Out, 1261 Lone Hill Ave., he said.
Officers arrived and found the men still in the parking lot, Caldwell said.
They were found to have items in the car that had just been stolen in a break-in at a home in the 1100 block of North Pasadena Avenue in Azusa, according to Glendora and Azusa police officials.
The homeowner was at work and was not aware her home had been burglarized, police added. All of her allegedly stolen property was recovered.
Caldwell commended the tipster who first reported the suspicious activity.
"That's the stuff I really want to impart on people," he said. "The public -- that's our eyes and ears out there."
Ibarra was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail and was due for arraignment Thursday in Covina Superior Court, according to county booking records.
The juvenile suspects were released to their parents with written promises to appear in court, officials said.
HACIENDA HEIGHTS -- A 60-year-old man who interrupted two burglars breaking into his vehicle was kidnapped then later abandoned by his captors Friday night, deputies said.
The incident happened at 6:40 p.m. in the 16300 block of Rochlen Street.
Sheriff's Lt. Victor Sotelo said it looks like the resident walked out of the house and saw the car burglary.
"He started fighting, yelling," Sotelo said.
The yelling drew the attention of a neighbor who came out of his house. Sotelo said the suspects then shoved the 60-year-old into their van and took off.
"They dropped him off at Garfield Avenue and the 60 Freeway in Monterey Park," Sotelo said.
He added the victim used a payphone to call his family. Deputies were still at the Rochlen Street house when the man called relatives.
The only description given so far for the suspects are two Latinos in a tan van.
- Ruby Gonzales
DIAMOND BAR -- Two men and a woman suspected of breaking into a Diamond Bar woman's home Tuesday are behind bars, authorities said Wednesday.
Chaka Thomas, 18, Shaquille O'Neil Gordon, 18, and Monquie Scruggs, 30, all of Los Angeles, were booked on suspicion of residential burglary, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Steven Katz said in a written statement.
A woman in the 20000 block of Gold Run Drive was startled shortly after noon by a burglar who forced open the front door of her house, Katz said.
The intruder fled upon seeing the woman, who was able to provide deputies a description of the suspect and the vehicle he fled in, the lieutenant said.
A deputy spotted a car matching the description nearby and detained Thomas, O'Neil and Scruggs, who were later identified as those responsible for the break-in, Katz said.
According to county booking records, all three suspects were being held in lieu of $50,000 bail each pending their initial court appearances Thursday in Pomona Superior Court.
GLENDORA -- In a new twist on an old scheme known as a "distraction burglary," two swindlers used a young girl to help them empty an elderly woman's home of valuable Tuesday, police said.
The burglary took place about 11 a.m. in the 1600 block of Suffolk Place, Glendora police Lt. Jaime Caldwell said.
An 89-year-old woman was in front of her home when she was approached by a woman, described only as a white woman in her 60s, who asked if she had housekeeping work available and kept elderly resident engaged in conversation, the lieutenant said.
As the victim was occupied by the woman, a white man in his 20s got out of a vehicle with a girl of about 5 years old, Caldwell said.
The man asked if he and his daughter could use the resident's bathroom, and the complied, Caldwell said. They were inside the house for about 10 minutes.
Once the man, woman and child had left, the resident discovered that about $1,700 worth of cash and jewelry were missing from her home, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Glendora Police Department.
MONTEREY PARK -- A burglar broke into a house and took jewelry worth $10,000 and a purse valued at $1,800 on Friday.
The thief pried open a window to get inside the house in the 1500 block of Grandridge Avenue, according to Monterey Park Lt. Eric Kim.
Kim said the residents left the house about 12:45 p.m. and discovered the break-in when they returned at 5:30 p.m.
- Ruby Gonzales
SANTA FE SPRINGS -- Police arrested two men early Thursday on suspicion of breaking into a vacant business on Firestone Boulevard.
Richard Hall, 49, and Gary Stanislaus, 47, were booked on suspicion of burglary, Whittier police Lt. Carlos Solorza said. Both men are from Norwalk, though Hall is believed to be a transient.
Deputies were on patrol about 2:50 a.m. in the 13300 block of Firestone Boulevard when they spotted an open door and a suspicious vehicle parked at a vacant business that had previously been the target of copper thieves, Whittier police Lt. Carlos Solorza said.
After police surrounded the building, Hall immediately turned himself in and claimed he was the only person inside the business, the lieutenant said.
When officers searched the building with the help of a K-9, however, Stanislaus was found inside and bitten by the dog, police said. He was treated for the bite wounds before being booked into jail.
According to county booking records, the suspects were being held in lieu of $20,000 each bail pending their initial court appearance.
LA PUENTE -- Thieves with a penchant for copper wire have hit five schools in the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District since November.
In an effort to stop the copper culprits, the school district is offering a $2,000 reward and partnered with WeTip. The reward is for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the thief or thieves.
District officials think the thieves were hitting campuses after school hours.
Sergio Cazorla, coordinator of risk management for the district, said that typically, school employees would come to work and discover the theft.
He said the estimated damages per school ranged from $5,000 to $15,000. That includes labor, materials and the cost of replacing the copper wire.
"We're already strapped for cash and for these people to steal copper wire from a school. It's saddening," he said.
"We want to put an end to the thefts."
The unidentified suspects struck at Newton Middle School, 15616 Newton St. in Hacienda Heights, Los Robles Academy, 1530 Ridley Ave. in Hacienda Heights, Cedarlane Academy, 16333 Cedarlane Drive in Hacienda Heights, Sunset Elementary, 800 N. Tonopah Ave. in La Puente.
School Police Chief Anthony Argott said the most recent theft occurred at Orange Grove Middle School on Jan. 3. The school is at 14505 Orange Grove Ave. in Hacienda Heights.
Cazorla said they have no description of the thieves.
"We have no information so we really need (the public's) help. If they see anything, call WeTip. Help us please," he said.
Anyone with information is asked to call WeTip at 1-800-78-CRIME. Tips can also be left online at www.WeTip.com
- Ruby Gonzales
COVINA -- Fingerprints led to the arrest of three men Tuesday in connection with about 20 residential and car burglaries over the past month, police said.
The arrests were the result of two separate investigations, Covina police Lt. John Curley. One of the probes targeted a series of more than a dozen home break-ins in the north end of town, while the other targeted a series of about half-a-dozen car break-ins.
Michael Finchen, 29, of Covina, was booked on suspicion of burglary, and Jose Villegas, 25, of Covina was booked on suspicion of possession of stolen property in connection with the residential burglary investigation, Curley said.
Officers investigating a break-in Monday at a house in the 1300 block of North Eastburry Avenue was able to collect a latent fingerprint from a bathroom window where the burglar had entered, the lieutenant said.
The fingerprint matched Finchen, Curley said, and detectives also identified Villegas as a possible accomplice. Villegas lives about a block from Finchen.
As police were preparing to serve an arrest warrant at Finchen's home in the 1400 block of North Fenimore Avenue, Villegas came out of his home to see what the commotion was, Curley said.
Officers arrested him on an outstanding DUI warrant before discovering a stolen Honda in the process of being stripped in his garage, police said, as well as apparently stolen items such as birth certificates and passports in his home.
Finchen was then arrested on suspicion of the Monday break-in without incident.
Detectives continued working to connect Finchen and Villegas to other nearby home burglaries reported over the last month, Curley said.
According to county booking records, Finchen was being held in lieu of $20,000 bail pending his initial court appearance, while Villegas was being held in lieu of $80,000 bail.
Also Tuesday, officers arrested Matthew Aguliar, 20, of Covina on suspicion of an attempted car break-in Sunday in the 200 block of East Puente Avenue, in which police were also able to match the suspect to a fingerprint left at the scene of the crime, Curley said.
Police said they were also looking into the possibility Aguliar was connected to another half-dozen or so nearby auto burglaries since December.
Aguliar's father, Ray Aguliar, said his son was released Thursday without charges.
Los Angeles County District Attorney's officials said though Aguliar was due in court Thursday, no case had been filed against him Friday.
Police could not confirm whether the case had been dropped or if Aguliar was released from jail, however criminal charges against defendants being held in custody are generally made within 48 hours of arrest.
BALDWIN PARK - Two suspected burglars were arrested New Year's Day after police used GPS tracking to find an iPhone reported stolen earlier that morning.
Baldwin Park police Lt. Dave Reynoso said a woman living in the 3500 block of Stichman Avenue woke up around 5 a.m. on New Year's Day and found that her purse was missing.
"Apparently someone broke into her house while she slept, possibly from an open door," Reynoso said.
After police arrived at her home, the woman and the officers used the GPS tracking feature of the phone to trace it to an address in the 14800 block of Pacific Avenue - about a mile from where she lived.
Reynoso said the officers responded to the address and detained Alberto Zuniga, 40, of Baldwin Park. When they dialed the woman's phone number, they could hear her phone ringing and found it in Zuniga's pocket.
The officers also detained Manual Alfaro, 28, of Baldwin Park at the same home and found him in possession of the woman's credit cards.
Both men were arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property. Zuniga was also faces a burglary charge.
Zuniga is being held on $46,502 bail at the Baldwin Park jail. Alfaro is being held on $20,000 bail.
Both are due for arraignment at the West Covina courthouse on Wednesday.
- J.D. Velasco
Deputies arrested a man Thursday on suspicion of stealing from parked cars at a cemetery while mourners visited grave sites.
Tommy James Lopez, 34, of San Gabriel, was booked on suspicion of petty theft from a vehicle and was being investigated in connection with at least four similar thefts at the same location -- Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuary, 21300 East Via Verde Street in an unincorporated county area near Covina, Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said.
A woman was visiting a grave at the cemetery about 10:20 a.m. when someone spotted Lopez stealing items from her unlocked car, Sgt. Steve Perez said.
The witness informed a security guard, who followed Lopez to the exit and flagged down a nearby Highway Patrol Officer, who took Lopez into custody, Perez said.
Perez was found in possession of several items believed to have been taken several similar break-ins at Forest Lawn reported over the past two months, Estrada said. The thefts primarily targeted women visiting the cemetery who left their cars unlocked.
Sgt. Mario Estrada reminded residents to keep valuables out of view in their cars to avoid creating temptations for opportunistic thieves, especially during the holiday season when auto burglaries tend to increase.
According to county booking records, Lopez was being held in lieu of $52,000 bail and was due for arraignment Tuesday in West Covina Superior Court.
BALDWIN PARK -- A thief cut a hole in the fence of the local animal shelter and stole a 2-month-old miniature Schnauzer/terrier mix Thursday night.
Police think the puppy-napper struck between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Los Angeles County Animal Care & Control Baldwin Park shelter, 4275 N. Elton Street.
Baldwin Park Police Lt. Joe Bartolotti said workers discovered a brown female puppy was missing.
There was no description of the thief available.
Anyone with information is asked to call Baldwin Park police at 626-960-1955.
- Ruby Gonzales
CONTRIBUTORS
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
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