Suspected serial bank robber, dubbed ‘Bluto Bandit,’ jailed after failed heist in South Pasadena

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Brian Day

SOUTH PASADENA >> Police arrested a fake-bearded serial bank robbery suspect known as the “Bluto Bandit” Thursday following a failed heist in South Pasadena, which officials alleged was the seventh crime in his multi-county crime spree.
San Marino police chased down and arrested Joseph Adel Noriega, 37, of Rancho Cucamonga following the 12:30 p.m. failed bank robbery in South Pasadena, according to San Marino police Sgt. Timothy Tebbetts.
“The suspect was wanted by the FBI for at least six prior bank robberies and attempted robberies throughout Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties,” he said.
South Pasadena police first responded to Chase bank, 1305 Fair Oaks Ave., after the robber arrived and passed a teller a note demanding cash, South Pasadena police Cpl. Shannon Robledo said.
“For unknown reasons, the suspect fled the bank without receiving money, leaving behind the demand note. A bank employee saw the suspect get into a white four door sedan and flee Southbound on Fair Oaks Avenue,” Robledo said.
San Marino police spotted the suspect’s vehicle driving in the area of Huntington Drive and Bradbury Road, Tebbetts said. Noriega led police on a chase before eventually stopping at Mission Drive and Hackett Avenue in Rosemead, where he was taken into custody.
The Bluto Bandit earned his moniker, taken from the villain in the Popeye comic strip, due to the false beard he wore during his crimes, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.
She described the Bluto Bandit as the “most prolific” serial bank robber currently operating in the Southland.
Previous robberies and incidents of suspect “casing” attributed to the bandit occurred in cities including Monrovia, Duarte, Unincorporated Pasadena, Ontario, Chino, Norco and Fontana
“(Noriega) was still wearing the fake black beard when he was arrested,” Robledo said.
Generally, the robber would target Chase banks branches and pass a note demanding cash to bank tellers, officials said.

The “Bluto Bandit” is pictured in this bank surveillance photo during a June 16, 2015, robbery at a Chase bank branch in Duarte. (Courtesy of the FBI.)

South Pasadena residents help capture burglary suspect

Posted on August 22, 2015 by Brian Day

SOUTH PASADENA >> Three South Pasadena residents helped police capture a man police said stole a bicycle and tried to steal a delivery van early Saturday, police said.
Edwin Lopez, 32, of Los Angeles was arrested on suspicion of residential burglary, attempted auto theft, possession of burglary tools and possession of drug paraphernalia, South Pasadena police Cpl. Craig Phillips said. It was Lopez’s fourth arrest over the past month, according to county booking records.
The incident began about 8 a.m. when a resident of the 1000 block of Magnolia Street spotted a burglar leaving an underground parking structure of a condominium complex with a neighbor’s bicycle, the corporal said.
The witness told the bike owner of the theft and ran after the thief, Phillips said. The owner and the witnesses’ wife jumped into a car and followed.
Phillips said the three caught up with the fleeing bike burglar in the 100 block of Pasadena Avenue. After grappling with the suspect and briefly holding him for police, Lopez ultimately broke free of his captors and ran, leaving behind the bicycle and his backpack.
Lopez then jumped into an Amazon delivery van, which had the keys in the ignition, and started the car before realizing he was not alone, Phillips said. The 17-year-old daughter of the delivery driver, who was sitting in the passenger seat, screamed, and Lopez jumped out of the van and continued fleeing on foot.
Police arrived within a minute and captured Lopez without a struggle, Philliips said.
The backpack Lopez dropped contained burglary tools and a methamphetamine pipe, Phillips added.
No injuries were reported to either the suspect, victim or the good Samaritans.
Lopez has already been arrested twice this month by South Pasadena police on suspicion of theft- and drug-related crimes, Phillips said.
He was also arrested by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau deputies Aug. 16, records show.
Lopez was being held in lieu of $50,00 bail at the Pasadena Police Department jail pending his initial court appearance, records show.

Would-be bank robber flees empty-handed in South Pasadena

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Brian Day

SOUTH PASADENA >> A man fled without any money after trying to rob a South Pasadena bank branch Wednesday afternoon, police said.
The failed robbery took place about 4:30 p.m. at Chase, 1305 Fair Oaks Avenue, South Pasadena police Sgt. Jim Valencia said.
A would-be robber handed a teller a page-long demand note and briefly stood at the teller’s window, but left without receiving any cash, the sergeant said. He was last seen exiting a west-facing door.
Officers searched the area but did not find the suspect, Valencia said.
The FBI, which investigates bank robberies, was notified of the incident, he added.

PHOTO courtesy of the South Pasadena Police Department

Teen robbed in South Pasadena

Posted on May 2, 2015 by Brian Day

SOUTH PASADENA >> Police are seeking who robbed a teen at gunpoint Thursday night.
The crime took place about 10:30 p.m. at the victim was walking in the 800 block of Mission Street, South Pasadena police Cpl. Tom Jacobs said.
The robber approached the teen from behind, brandished a handgun and forced the victim to lie on the ground, the corporal said.
“The juvenile then gave up property to the suspect,” Jacobs said. The robber fled west on foot. The victim suffered no significant injuries.

South Pasadena teens admit to planning mass shooting; sentenced to probation

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Brian Day

SOUTH PASADENA >> Two teenage boys were sentenced to probation Wednesday after admitting they planned a mass shooting at South Pasadena High School in August.
The teens, now 17 and 18, admitted to one felony count of making criminal threats for the plot against their school last year, which was discovered three days before the start of the school year.
The confessions came on what was scheduled to be the first day of trial.
South Pasadena police Detective Sgt. Robert Bartl, who has worked the investigation since the beginning, said he was pleased to see the case come to an end.
“I’m just very happy to see that there’s a resolution to this, and that there were some consequences to their actions,” he said. “I think it’s important for the students and administrators at the school to see the end of this… that they are safe.”
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South Pasadena liquor store robbed for 2nd time in two weeks

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Brian Day

SOUTH PASADENA >> A South Pasadena liquor store was robbed late Saturday for the second time in just over a week, officials said.
The heist occurred about 11:30 p.m. at Ocean Liquor, 2005 Huntington Drive, South Pasadena police Cpl. Shannon Robledo said.
Two men wearing sunglasses, gloves, hats and bandanas over their faces entered the store where two employees were working, Robledo said.
One of them pointed a handgun at the employee behind the counter and demanded cash, the corporal said.
The robbers fled after obtaining money from the register and searching behind the counter for more, Robledo said.
They were last seen heading east on Huntington Drive in a small, white or silver car.
The second employee managed to call 9-1-1 as the robbery was ongoing, however the suspects has already fled when officers arrived
Police had already added extra patrols in the area in response to another robbery at the same liquor store March 20, Robledo said.
In last week’s robbery, two men with a gun robbed the store of cash, lottery scratchers and a 12-pack of craft beer, according to Sgt. Tony Abdalla.
It appeared different robbers were responsible for the two crimes, Robledo said.

Gunmen steal cash, lottery scratchers, craft beer in South Pasadena liquor store robbery

Posted on March 21, 2015 by Brian Day

SOUTH PASADENA >> Two men armed with handguns made off with cash, lottery scratchers and a 12-pack of craft beer in a liquor store robbery late Friday, police said.
The crime unfolded about 10 p.m. at Ocean Liquor Store, 2005 Huntington Drive, South Pasadena police Sgt. Tony Abdalla said.
The robbers entered the store and threatened the lone clerk, a man in his 60s, at gunpoint, the sergeant said.
They took money from the cash register, as well as from the clerk, Abdalla said. The robbers also helped themselves to lottery scratcher tickets and a 12-pack of Stone IPA beer before fleeing.
Abdalla said the two robbers were last seen heading out of the store toward the parking lot. No getaway car was seen.
Police described the robbers as Latino men between 20 and 22 years old.
One stood about 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighed about 145 pounds, Abdalla said. He had short black hair, wore all dark clothing and carried a stainless steel revolver.
The second robber was about 5 feet 7 inches tall, 165 pounds, wearing a silver jacket and some type of garment covering his face. He also carried a handgun.
Police were working on obtaining surveillance video footage from the store to develop additional clues, Abdalla said.
Anyone with information can reach South Pasadena police at 626-403-7270.

Man exposes self to girls outside South Pasadena Middle School

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Brian Day

SOUTH PASADENA >> Police are seeking a man who exposed himself to two South Pasadena Middle School girls in front of the campus Thursday.
The indecent exposure took place about 1:40 p.m. in front of the school, 1500 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena police officials said in a written statement.
“A male subject exposed himself in the presence of two female middle school students as he drove past the school,” the statement said.
“Both students believe the suspect was unaware of their presence as he drove passed the school westbound on Oak Street, then turning northbound on Fair Oaks Avenue,” the statement continued. “The subject did not approach the two students or attempt to contact them.”
Police described the suspect as a man of unknown race, between 30 and 55 years old, wearing a white baseball-style T-shirt with red sleeves. He was driving a grey Lexus sedan of unknown year and license plate number.
Anyone with information is asked to contact South Pasadena police detectives at 626-403-7280.

Man bilks Girl Scouts with fake $100 bill in South Pasadena

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Brian Day

SOUTH PASADENA >> Police are seeking a young man they say used a counterfeit $100 bill to rip off a group of Girl Scouts selling cookies in front of a South Pasadena grocery store last week.
The incident took place shortly after 5:30 p.m. Feb. 27 outside Vons, 1129 Fair Oaks Avenue, South Pasadena police Sgt. Richard Lee said in a written statement.
The suspect first tried to use a fake $100 bill in the store to by some detergent, but employees recognized the bill was phony, Lee said. The suspect left the store with the counterfeit currency.
The suspect left the store and used the same fake bill to buy three boxes of Girl Scout cookies from scouts who were selling them at a table in front of the store, Lee said. In addition to the cookies, he also received change for the bogus bill, which a Girl Scout leader ultimately realized was fake.
Police described the thief as a black man, about 18 years old, 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 7 inches tall and 130 pounds. He wore blue jeans, a white hooded sweatshirt with writing on the front and dark shoes with white laces.
Anyone with information is asked to contact South Pasadena police detectives at 626-403-7280.

Good Samaritan, police rescue five people from fiery South Pasadena crash; driver suspected of DUI

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Brian Day

SOUTH PASADENA >> A good Samaritan and police pulled five people from an overturned, burning car early Sunday following an alleged DUI crash at Fair Oaks Avenue and Huntington Drive, authorities said.
The crash took place just before 2 a.m., South Pasadena police Sgt. Brian Solinsky said.
A 21-year-old Glendora woman was driving a 2012 Mazda sedan south on Fair Oaks Avenue at high speed when she lost control while trying to make a left turn onto Huntington Drive, Solinsky said.
“The car struck a center median and then a mailbox and fire hydrant on the south sidewalk of Huntington, shearing off the hydrant,” police said in a written statement. “The car just missed hitting a tree, struck a sign and wall, flipped over and landed on its roof.”
“Four adult females, including the driver, were able to crawl from the wreckage with the help of passersby after one of the female passengers kicked out a window,” according to the statement.
But a man who had been knocked unconscious in the crash was still inside when police arrived on scene, Solinsky said. The car was rapidly becoming engulfed in flames.
Officers smashed a window with a baton and pulled the unconscious man to safety, Solinsky said.
By the time the fire was extinguished,the car was “torched,” Solinksy said, adding that he doubted anyone left inside the burning car could have survived.
The driver and four passengers were all taken to a hospital for treatment, the sergeant said.
The driver, a 21-year-old Glendora woman whose name was not available Sunday, suffered injuries described as moderate, Solinsky said. They appeared to include injuries to her head and face.
The woman had not been formally arrested Sunday afternoon due to her injuries, but was expected to face a felony drunken driving case, Solinsky said.
The four passengers, residents of Glendora and Azusa who were also in their early-20s, suffered injuries described by police as minor.

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