Highlighted Activity for the Weekdays of August 27-29, 2012

Commercial Burglary / Petty Theft with Priors - Suspect Arrested

August 28 at 11:52 a.m., a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain called police to report a subject they had in custody for commercial burglary.  A male subject, recently released from parole in May, was caught attempting to steal wire he had secreted between bags of garden material from the business.  He admitted to the officer that he intended to steal the items.  His criminal history revealed he had numerous convictions with time served for theft.  He was arrested and charged with commercial burglary and petty theft with priors.

Residential Burglary

August 28 at 1:04 p.m., police were dispatched to the 600 block of Terrado regarding a residential burglary.  An elderly female called police to report her home had been burglarized.  She had left the home at 11:00 a.m. and returned at 1:00 p.m.  When she returned home, she found someone had taken the glass louvers off of a window. Suspect(s) had entered the home and had taken items of jewelry.  The investigation is continuing.

Burglary

August 28 at 9:52 p.m., police responded to the report of a burglary that occurred in the 400 block of East Olive, between 7:20 a.m. and 9:50 p.m.  Unknown suspect(s) entered the garage through an unlocked door.  The garage is adjacent to an alley.  A green dolly was stolen.  Investigation continuing.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered

August 29 at 12:28 a.m., a car was reported abandoned in the intersection of Canyon and Walnut.  A subject was seen, possibly a male, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, running west from the car.  Officers arrived and, after investigation, found the car had just been stolen from in front of a residence in the 800 block of South Canyon.  The suspect broke a window to gain entry and punched the ignition.  It appeared that although the suspect got the engine started, he was unable to unlock the steering wheel to turn the vehicle and he abandoned it at the intersection.  The suspect left some tools and a backpack in the vehicle.  The investigation is continuing.

Possession of Burglary Tools / Drug Paraphernalia / Stolen Property / Parole Violation - Suspect Arrested

August 29 at 9:24 a.m., a citizen called to report seeing a male subject looking into cars in the 1500 block of South Myrtle. Officers responded and located the subject, a known drug user with a history of theft.  The subject was holding a multi-socket tool that looked fairly new. When questioned he admitted to taking the tool from a vehicle near Cypress and Myrtle. A further search of the subject revealed a shaved screw driver and aluminum foil pipe with residue on it. The subject was arrested and booked for the above listed charges. Additionally, the subject violated his parole and a parole hold was issued.

Detective Bureau Case Follow-Up

Armed Robbery - Primary Suspect Sentenced to 103 Years to Life

In 2008, several armed robberies were committed within the San Gabriel Valley, one of which occurred in the City of Monrovia.  The robbery in Monrovia involved two armed suspects and a third get away driver.  The two armed suspects entered a business in the 300 block of West Huntington, just prior to closing, while the get away driver stood by at the rear of the business.  The armed suspects confronted several employees inside the business, bound their wrists, and held them at gunpoint in an office.  They took cash from the business and fled in a waiting vehicle driven by the third suspect.  Evidence and Investigation suggested these same suspects committed additional robberies in Pasadena, Altadena and other San Gabriel Valley cities.  Monrovia detectives worked diligently on this investigation and eventually identified all three suspects. 

All three of these suspects were successfully prosecuted and convicted of multiple felony charges.  The sentencing for the primary suspect has been in the courts for the past 2 years, and he was finally sentenced on August 23, 2012, at the Pasadena Superior Court.  He received a sentence of 103 years to life!  This was great work by Monrovia investigators to bring this case to a conclusion. 

Tip of the Week

Submit Anonymous Tips by Phone, Text, or the Web with "Crime Stoppers"

The purpose of Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers is to prevent and reduce crime, by forming a partnership among the community, law enforcement and the media to offer anonymity and cash rewards to anyone providing information leading to an arrest, thereby making the community a safer place for all who live or work in the region.

Crime Stoppers encourages members of the community to assist local law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime by overcoming the two key elements that inhibit community involvement: fear and apathy.

Callers can remain anonymous and are eligible to receive a cash reward if the information given leads to an arrest or criminal filing of a felony or misdemeanor offender.   

Tips can be made by text, on the Web, or by calling the toll-free phone number to LA Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477). 

The Monrovia Police Department participates in Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers, where you can submit crime tips to Law Enforcement anonymously.  

Highlighted Activity for the Weekend of August 23-26, 2012

Following are the weekend's highlighted issues and events.  To see a complete listing of crimes reported, go to the City of Monrovia website at www.monroviapd.org and click on the crime mapping link.  Sign up to follow us on twitter for police notifications.

Residential Burglary

August 23 at 12:24 p.m., police were dispatched to a residential burglary that occurred in the 200 block of North Mountain.  The victim left his residence at about 8:00 a.m. that morning and was sure he had locked everything at the home.  When he returned just after 12:00 noon, he noted several slats from the vertical blinds covering the front slider were pushed to the side.  When he went in and walked around the house, he discovered a jewelry box, a coin bank and some electronic games were missing.  There were no signs of forced entry.  Investigation continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence - Suspect Arrested

August 24 at 3:45 p.m., an injury traffic collision was reported at the intersection of California and Huntington.  Police responded and determined the motorist was driving under the influence of alcohol.  The driver was arrested and taken into custody.  The other driver involved complained of pain to her hand.

Hit and Run Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence / Obstructing and Delaying a Peace Officer - Suspect Arrested

August 24 at 11:40 p.m., a suspicious vehicle was reported at a parking lot in the 700 block of West Huntington.  A male suspect approached a taxi cab driver and asked for a ride.  He told the taxi cab driver he had just been in a collision.  The suspect left and the taxi cab driver called police.  Officers arrived and detained the suspect, who was uncooperative with the officers.  The suspect's vehicle had major collision damage and the front bumper was missing. 

Officers searched the area and discovered the suspect had struck a large plastic sand bucket on the 210 Freeway at Myrtle.  His front bumper, with the license plate attached, was still on the freeway.  Through investigation, officers determined the driver was under the influence.  He was arrested for driving under the influence, hit and run and obstructing an officer.

Residential Burglary

August 25 at 8:42 a.m., police responded to a residential burglary in the 200 block of Poppy.  The resident left her home at 6:00 a.m., leaving her front door unlocked and no one at home.  She returned home at 8:30 a.m. and discovered her bedroom had been ransacked.  Her purse and been taken, containing cash, a set of keys and a book of personal checks.  She immediately called police.  Investigation continuing.

Bear Problem

August 26 at 11:26 a.m., a female resident who lives on Hidden Valley called to report that she heard noises coming from her kitchen and when she went to investigate, she saw a small bear in her refrigerator.  The bear ran out and to the back of the property.  An animal control officer responded to the call and the bear was encouraged back up into the hills.  

Special Enforcement Team Weekly Activity

Warrant - Suspect Arrested

August 22, Special Enforcement Team Officers saw a known gang member that had an outstanding warrant, loitering in the 200 block of East Maple.  He was detained and arrested for the warrant.

Warrant - Suspect Arrested

On August 22, Special Enforcement Team Officers ran a license plate to a suspicious vehicle near Mayflower and Walnut.  The registered owner of the vehicle had a federal warrant for desertion from the Marine Corps.  The vehicle was stopped and the driver was arrested for the warrant.  Personnel from the United States Marine Corps responded and took custody of the subject.

Highlighted Activity for the Weekdays of August 20-22, 2012

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - Suspect Arrested

August 20 at 9:48 a.m., police responded to an apartment complex in the 500 block of West Foothill regarding a subject sleeping on private property.  Upon arrival, they found a male subject wearing women's clothing asleep toward the front of the property.  When the subject was awakened, he was cooperative.  There was a purse in front of him, which he admitted to officers had methamphetamine in it.  A verbal consent to search was obtained and a large quantity of used needles and a burnt spoon were recovered. The suspect was arrested.

Rollover Injury Traffic Collision 

August 20 at 9:30 p.m., a young man was driving his vehicle eastbound in the 100 block of East Lemon.  He was traveling at a high rate of speed and failed to stop for the stop sign at Ivy.  When his vehicle hit the dip in the intersection, the vehicle went airborne.  It landed on the east side of the intersection and the driver lost control of the vehicle, striking a parked car.  The vehicle then rolled over several times in the street.  The driver received minor injuries and had to be removed from the vehicle by Monrovia Fire Department personnel.  The driver was taken to a hospital, where he is expected to recover from his injuries.

Vehicle Burglary

August 20 at 6:18 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 700 block of North Canyon.  The burglary occurred on August 18 between 6:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.  The victim left the windows down a few inches for ventilation, and it appears the suspect was able to reach in and unlock the door.  A power saw, coins, and keys were stolen.  Investigation continuing.

Mail Thefts

August 21, several mail thefts occurred throughout the city during daytime hours.  The thefts occurred in the 700 block of Anita, the 900 block of Royal Oaks, the 400 block of North Magnolia, and the 900 block of Norumbega.  Some of the mail stolen from Anita and North Magnolia was found in the street at Primrose and Scenic, indicating these cases may be related.  A witness to the thefts from Norumbega saw a suspect by the mailboxes at 4:00 p.m.  The suspect is described as a male, White, 40's, very short blond hair, wearing a white tank shirt.  The suspect vehicle is described as an older model, teal or dark colored Ford Bronco or Explorer.  Investigation continuing.

Tip of the Week

Back to School Traffic Safety

Children of all ages are returning back to school, and with students going back to school, traffic congestion will be increased on the road and drivers will need to be extra cautious.  Whether in a school zone or a residential neighborhood, drivers need to remember to slow down and be prepared to stop.  The speed limit in school zones and residential neighborhoods is 25 miles per hour, unless posted otherwise; some school zones may have speed limits as low as 15 miles per hour.  

Always stop for school buses.  Flashing yellow lights on a school bus indicate it is preparing to stop to load or unload children, and drivers should slow down and prepare to stop.  Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped, and children are getting on and off.  Drivers are required to stop their vehicles and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop sign is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before they can start driving again.  The greatest risk to children is not riding on the bus, but getting on and off the bus.

Always drive more carefully near schools, playgrounds, parks, and residential areas because children may suddenly dart into the street from between parked cars and other objects along the roadway.  Also, many children have not yet developed the ability to judge speeds and distances well enough to cross streets safely when cars are moving fast.  Drivers need to stay alert and obey traffic signs, especially where children may be present.  Slow down and stay alert to help keep children safe!  

Important numbers for you to add to your cell phone.

Contact Phone Numbers

For Emergency Dial .... 911

Police Department Business Line.. (626) 256-8000

Community Policing Sergeant .. (626) 256-8020

Watch Commander .. (626) 256-8030

Cell Watch ..  (626) 357-CELL (2355)

Graffiti Removal ..  (626) 836-3654

Shopping Cart Removal.. (800) 252-4613

Los Angeles Regional Crime Stopper..  (800) 222-TIPS (8477)

Highlighted Activity for the Weekend of August 16-19, 2012

Warrant / Parolee at Large - Suspect Arrested

August 16 at 7:20 a.m., police were requested to the 800 block of West Chestnut regarding a male transient sleeping on a bench on a business property near their front lobby.  Officers arrived and recognized the subject from prior contacts.  Computer checks revealed he had an outstanding warrant out of Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and a no-bail parolee-at-large warrant.  He was arrested and taken into custody.

Disturbed Subject / Mental Evaluation

August 16 at 16:27 p.m., police dispatch received a call reporting a male subject walking around holding a knife in the 300 block of West Duarte.  After making the initial report the caller hung up the phone.  Officers responded and located the subject in a parking area.  The subject was holding a large knife and refused to drop it at the request of officers.  He stated to the officers that he wanted them to shoot him.  One of the officers eventually talked the subject into dropping the knife.  The subject was taken into custody.  

A check of the subject's cell phone revealed the phone number was the same as the reporting party.  It appears the subject was the one who made the initial report on himself.  The subject was taken to a hospital, where he was placed on a 72-hour hold for mental evaluation.      

Traffic Collision - Vehicle vs. Pedestrian

August 17 at 8:49 p.m., a 73-year-old female was walking east on Royal Oaks and began to cross Mountain in the pedestrian walkway.  The female claims she had a white figure facing her, indicating she was clear to cross the street, when a vehicle turned southbound onto Mountain from Royal Oaks.  The driver claims she had a green signal facing her direction of travel.  The pedestrian managed to push away from the vehicle with her arms, but still fell to the ground, striking her head on the asphalt.  She complained of pain to her left leg, left arm, and her head.  She was taken to a hospital, where she is expected to recover from her injuries.  The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary

August 18 at 8:34 a.m., an officer was dispatched to an apartment complex in the 1800 block of Eighth Avenue regarding a vehicle burglary.  The victim parked her vehicle in a guest parking stall to the rear of the complex in the evening.  She locked the vehicle, but had left her purse and laptop on the floorboard, behind the front passenger seat.  When she returned to her vehicle the next morning at about 8:30 a.m., she found the rear passenger side window shattered.  Her purse, credit cards and laptop were all missing. Investigation continuing.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered

August 18 at 10:36 a.m., the victim of a grand theft auto called to report he had located his stolen vehicle in the 100 block East Colorado.  The victim was out riding his bicycle around town and happened to come across his vehicle.  The vehicle is a silver, 2005 Toyota Camry and was reported stolen on August 15.  Investigation continuing.

Grand Theft Auto / Warrant / Receiving Stolen Property - Suspects Arrested

August 18 at 12:22 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 100 block of West Lemon.  The victim parked her vehicle in her designated parking stall at her apartment complex and locked it.  When she returned to the vehicle the next morning it was missing.  The vehicle is a green, 1997 Acura Integra.

At 2:02 p.m. the same day, a vehicle burglary was reported in the 200 block of California.  The reporting party ran out of his house when his wife told him someone had just broken into his vehicle.  He ran to the alley and saw three suspicious subjects in and around a green Acura Integra.  He was able to get a picture on his cell phone of the driver, suspects, the vehicle, and the license plate.  He attempted to follow the suspects, but lost them.  He then went home and called police.  Police responded and checked the area.  An area search was made and two of the suspects were eventually located.  The vehicle license plate was found to belong to the stolen Acura from earlier that morning.  The pictures taken by the reporting party positively identified the driver of the stolen vehicle.  The second suspect was found to have an outstanding warrant.  Both suspects were arrested and taken into custody.      

In the early morning hours of the next day, officers located the third outstanding suspect sleeping in an alley.  He had shaved his head in an attempt to alter his appearance.  He was taken into custody with incident. 

August 19 at 8:38 p.m., an officer on patrol was driving through an alley in the 200 block of West Colorado and located the stolen green Acura parked in a carport stall of an apartment complex.  The vehicle was recovered.

Grand Theft Auto

August 19 at 9:17 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 200 block of East Central.  The victim parked and locked his black, 2004 Chevy Silverado in front of his residence about 9:00 p.m. in the evening.  He noticed the vehicle missing the next morning at 9:00 a.m.  The vehicle has 20-inch chrome rims.  Investigation continuing.

Domestic Violence - Suspect Arrested

August 19 at 4:27 p.m., officers responded to a fight in progress between two subjects at a business parking lot in the 200 block of West Huntington.  When the officers arrived, they detained a male subject in the parking lot.  The other half involved in the fight was the male subject's girlfriend, who was last seen walking west on Huntington.  Officers located the girlfriend, who was found to have injuries from the fight.  The male subject was arrested for domestic violence.

Join nextdoor and help create a bigger neighborhood

This website I stumbled upon quite accidentally looking for some Neighborhood and America's Night Out.  Turns out the city is participating and encouraging folks to join at MAP meetings.

The goal of next door is to open up communications among larger neighborhoods than just our street.  The neighborhood for us  roughly encompasses the area from Foothill on the South, Canyon to its end way up by Canyon Park and Grand on the east up until the Hillcrest curve.   They are looking to increase communication by meeting neighbors and sharing advice, goods and crime prevention.

I joined and the process is quite easy.  I opted for the post card version of verification of address rather than my phone...silly me I guess.  Once I had my address verified I was in and found that there were a few others already in our designated "neighborhood" and we've begun to chat a bit.

Please consider joining Nextdoor.  Their home page is HERE and joining is so easy once you are in.

fraz

Highlighted Activity for the Weekdays of August 13-15, 2012

Theft From a Vehicle

August 13 at 12:44 p.m., a theft from a vehicle was reported in the 300 block of Stedman.  The victim parked her vehicle in front of her residence at 4:00 p.m., but does not remember is she locked it.  She returned to her vehicle at 8:00 a.m. the next morning and found her car was open.  Her wallet and a laptop computer were taken.  Investigation continuing.

Medical Assist

August 14 at 6:25 a.m., officers responded to the report of a man down and unresponsive at Shamrock and Palm.  Officers located the man, who had been out walking his dog, and started first aid.  They used an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) to revive the subject.  Monrovia Fire Department paramedics arrived on scene and took over.  The victim was taken to a hospital and was later reported to be in stable condition.

Vehicle Burglary

August 14 at 11:55 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 400 block of South Mayflower.  The victim parked his car on the street in front of his home late in the evening.  He went out to his vehicle the next day and found the doors were ajar.  The victim thought he locked the car after he parked it.  The loss is unknown.  Investigation continuing.

Vehicle Tampering

August 14 at 1:23 p.m., a vehicle tampering was reported in the 600 block of East Walnut.  The victim went to her car in the morning and started the engine.  She noticed that it sounded different.  When she checked the vehicle, she found half of a potato stuffed in her exhaust pipe.  Investigation continuing.

Possession of Stolen Property - Suspects Arrested

August 15 at 4:35 p.m., the victim of a recent theft from his vehicle in the 400 block of South Mayflower reported to police that his credit card had just been used to purchase a DVD.  An officer viewed surveillance video from the business and immediately recognized the suspect.  He located the suspect, interviewed him, and found he still had stolen property from the vehicle in his possession. 

The interview led to a vacant home in the 300 block of West Olive, where another suspect was located.  This suspect was also found to be in possession of stolen property from the vehicle, along with a used methamphetamine pipe.  Both male suspects were subsequently arrested and taken into custody.

Hot-Prowl Burglary

August 14 at 6:05 p.m., officers responded to a hot-prowl burglary at a residence in the 500 block of West Duarte.  A female friend of the resident was in the apartment bathroom when she heard suspicious noises.  The bathroom door suddenly opened and she saw a male suspect.  The suspect fled upon seeing the female through the front door.  The female friend waited until the resident returned home before they notified police, approximately 20 minutes.  It appears the suspect removed a window screen to enter through an unlocked window.  There was no loss.  The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, early 20's, 5'8" to 5'10", muscular build, wearing a black t-shirt and carrying a dark backpack.  The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto

August 15 at 6:59 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 100 block of East Walnut.  The theft occurred sometime between 6:00 p.m. on August 14 and 1:00 p.m. on August 15.  The vehicle is a silver, 2005 Toyota Camry.  Investigation continuing.

Tip of the Week

Living With Wildlife in Monrovia

The foothills above Monrovia are occupied by wildlife: bears, coyotes, deer, mountain lions, and bobcats.  Sometimes these wild animals venture out of the foothills and into residential neighborhoods.  Most of the time, the wildlife comes and goes without notice.

Occasionally, wildlife ventures down into the city and becomes a potential danger to humans.  Police will respond when called to a wildlife sighting and in most incidents, the primary goal is to allow the animal to leave the area and return back to the foothills.  And in most incidents, the officer's presence, use of vehicles, horns, beanbag rounds, is sufficient to encourage the animal to leave the area.  To discourage wildlife from coming down into Monrovia neighborhoods, residents need to keep food, trash and water sources out of reach of wildlife.

There are sources, such as the Department of Fish and Game, who offer tips in dealing with wildlife.  They also offer good information on how to respond when faced with an actual encounter.  Click on the links to the brochures provided by the Department of Fish and Game that deal specifically with mountain lions, black bears, and other wildlife.  More and more, people and wildlife are occupying the same geographical areas; learn how to live responsibly with the wildlife around you.

Highlighted Activity for the Weekend of August 9-12, 2012

Indecent Exposure - Suspect Arrested

August 9 at 6:20 a.m., a female resident reported a male subject near the intersection of Palm and Primrose exposing and fondling himself.  An officer responded and detained the suspect, and the female reporting party completed a private person's arrest.  The suspect was taken into custody and was later released on citation. 

At 6:15 a.m. the next day, the female resident observed the same male subject again exposing and fondling himself at the same intersection of Palm and Primrose.  An officer arrived and apprehended the male suspect.  Another private person's arrest was completed.  Charges of indecent exposure will be filed with the District Attorney's Office.

The suspect is described as an adult male Black, 5 foot 8 inches tall, 235 pounds, and approximately 30 years old.  If anyone has witnessed a similar crime in the area, please contact the Monrovia Police Department Detective Bureau at (626) 256-8041.

Domestic Violence - Suspect Arrested

August 10 at 10:01 p.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 300 block of West Lemon regarding a man choking a woman.  When officers arrived, the female victim told them her live-in fiancé had choked her and hit her, then left the location.  She had visible bruises on her face, arms and legs.  She told the officers it was the second time he had hit her in the past week, but she did not report the first incident.  An area check was made for the suspect; he was located, detained and ultimately arrested.  He was charged with two counts of domestic violence.

Driving Under the Influence Traffic Collision - Suspect Arrested

August 11 at 2:23 a.m., a vehicle that was traveling south on Alta Vista, turned east onto Cypress and lost control.  The driver veered the vehicle toward the north curb and stopped.  He then accelerated and managed to turn the vehicle toward the south curb, where it collided with a parked vehicle.  Officers arrived and determined the driver to be intoxicated; he was arrested for driving under the influence.

Vehicle Burglary

August 12 at 3:59 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 100 block of West Lemon.  The victim parked and locked his Toyota 4Runner in the gated garage complex of his residence in the evening.  He returned to his vehicle the next day at about 3:00 p.m. and found his vehicle was open.  Miscellaneous items were taken.  No damage was done to the vehicle.  Investigation continuing.

Driving Under the Influence Traffic Collision - Suspect Arrested

August 13 at 4:09 a.m., officers responded to the 2500 block of South Myrtle regarding a non-injury traffic collision.  When they arrived, they discovered a solo motorist had collided into four unoccupied parked vehicles.  Through investigation, the officers determined the motorist was driving under the influence of alcohol.  The driver was arrested and taken into custody. 

Special Enforcement Team Weekly Activity

Possession of a Loaded Firearm in a Vehicle / Possession for Sales and Transportation of Marijuana / Possession of Rock Cocaine / Warrants - Three Suspects Arrested

August 11 at 7:26 p.m., Special Enforcement Team officers stopped a vehicle for vehicle code violations in the 500 block of East Cherry.  Officers noticed an odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle as they spoke to the driver.  The vehicle was occupied by two male adults and one female adult.  The vehicle was searched and officers found a loaded firearm, baggies of marijuana, empty baggies, and a weight scale.  All three occupants were arrested.

The driver was arrested for possession for sales and transportation of marijuana, possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle, and possession of rock cocaine.  The male passenger was arrested for false impersonation of another, possession for sales of marijuana and an outstanding misdemeanor warrant.  The female passenger was arrested for possession of a methamphetamine pipe and an outstanding warrant.  The vehicle was stored.

Highlighted Activity for the Weekdays of August 6-8, 2012

Residential Burglary

On August 6 at 8:24 p.m., an officer responded to the 200 block of Orange regarding a residential burglary that occurred sometime between 11:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.  An unknown suspect(s) broke a rear window to gain entry. The home was ransacked, but there was no loss. Investigation continuing.

Theft from a Vehicle

On August 7 at 11:19 p.m., a theft from a vehicle was reported in the 400 block of East Walnut.  The theft occurred between 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.  The victim's vehicle was parked in the carport, adjacent to the alley.  The loss was a purse and the vehicle stereo.   Investigation continuing

Vehicle Burglary

On August 8 at 9:51 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 600 block of South Canyon.  The burglary occurred between 9:00 p.m. on August 7 and 6:00 a.m. on August 8. The victim's vehicle was parked in the driveway.  The suspect(s) gained entry by an unknown means. There were no signs of forced entry. A knife, sunglasses, and a phone charger were stolen.  Investigation continuing.

Detective Bureau Case Follow-up

Attempted Fraud and Identity Theft

On August 8 at 10:21 a.m., an attempted fraud and identity theft occurred in the 1600 block of South Mountain.  Patrol responded and arrested the male who was attempting to open store credit with a fraudulent California driver's license and fraudulent credit card.  The male told the arresting officer he was "dropped off" at the location.  During the booking process, the arresting officer found a car key and additional fraudulent credit cards and another fraudulent driver's license in his possession.  Detectives went to the business parking lot and found the suspect's vehicle.  The Detectives got consent to search and recovered additional fraudulent credit cards, fraudulent credit application and a laptop.  It appears this subject is part of a fraud ring using other people's information to obtain store credit from various merchant retailers.  Detectives are currently working with bank investigators to locate victims from the credit cards, driver's licenses and fraudulent credit applications.  The suspect is in custody and is also wanted on a no bail warrant from Nevada for another fraud case

Tip of the Week

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is any non-driving activity a person engages in that has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving and increase the risk of crashing.  The National Safety Council reports that drivers who use a cell phone are four times more likely to be in a crash and are responsible for 636,000 crashes and 2,600 deaths each year.  To protect yourself and those around you:

Put your cell phone on silent or vibrate before starting the car.

Modify your voicemail greeting to indicate you are unavailable to answer calls or return messages while driving.

Inform clients, associates and business partners why calls may not be returned immediately.

If you need to talk or text, pull over to a safe location and park your vehicle.

Hands-free cell phones are not safer; cell phone driving is a visual, mechanical and cognitive distraction.

Educate your employees, drivers and parents on the dangers of driving while on a cell phone.

Support cell phone legislation and enforcement. 

Highlighted Activity for the Weekend of August 2-5, 2012

Warrant - Suspect Arrested

On August 2 at 9:42 a.m., an officer knew of an outstanding warrant for a local subject. The officer located the subject in the 300 block of South Myrtle and arrested him for the warrant. The subject was booked and later taken to county jail.

Recovered Stolen Property - Suspect Arrested

On August 3 at 10:41 a.m., officers detained a suspect in the 700 block of West Huntington.  The suspect was wanted by the California Highway Patrol for Assault with a Deadly Weapon. They had been looking for this suspect for several days. California Highway Patrol officers arrived and arrested the suspect.  When the suspect was arrested, he was in possession of property that he claimed was given to him by another subject.  The suspect said the property was stolen from inside a house on Alta in Monrovia.  A burglary report was in fact taken in the 800 block of Alta and the property the suspect had in his possession was the property listed as stolen in the crime report.  The stolen property was recovered and returned to the victim.  The suspect is currently being held on charges for assault by the California Highway Patrol.

Grand Theft Auto

On August 3 at 4:45 p.m., a female custodian called to report her vehicle was stolen in the 500 block of East Lime.  She parked her black, 2007, Toyota Corolla, in the parking lot leaving the keys inside her vehicle.  She went into the hospital for approximately 45 minutes to clean, and when she returned to her vehicle it   was gone.  There were no witnesses located, investigation continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision - Vehicle vs. Pedestrian

On August 3 at 8:15 p.m., officers responded the 100 block of South Myrtle regarding a traffic collision.  A female was walking across the street in the 100 block of South Myrtle.  A witness reported seeing the female running across the street outside the crosswalk when she was struck by a vehicle traveling south on Myrtle at approximately 25 mph.  The female landed on the hood, but when the driver applied the brakes, she was launched forward approximately 40 feet.  The female sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment and is expected to recover.

Mental Evaluation

On August 4 at 10:09 p.m., a female was driving west on Duarte and noticed an 18 year old male straddling the wash overpass rails and leaning into the wash.  The driver stopped her vehicle and approached the subject.  The subject was crying and stated he was depressed.  He told the female to leave because he was about to do something she did not want to see.  She immediately called 911 to report the incident.  The female managed to speak with the subject until officer's arrived.  The subject was taken to Charter Oak for a 72 hour hold.

Driving Under the Influence - Suspect Arrested

On August 5 at 1:30 a.m., dispatch received a call of a vehicle traveling west on Huntington in the eastbound lanes.  Officers responded and stopped the driver.  While speaking with the driver, they discovered the driver was under the influence of alcohol.  The driver was arrested, booked and later released on a citation.

Special Enforcement Team Weekly Activity

Warrant / Possession of Less then one Ounce of Marijuana - Suspects Arrested

On August 1, Special Enforcement Officers responded to the 300 block of South Myrtle regarding drug activity.  They arrived and arrested one female adult for an outstanding misdemeanor warrant.  They also cited a male adult for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.

Warrant - Suspect Arrested

On August 3, Special Enforcement Officers saw a known gang member standing in front of the 300 block of South Myrtle that they knew had a $40,000 warrant.  The suspect   was arrested for the warrant.

Drug Paraphernalia / Synthetic Marijuana - Suspect Arrested

On August 4, Special Enforcement Officers saw a suspicious vehicle parked in the 300 block of West Cypress, occupied by a male and female adult.  As officers spoke to the two, they could smell marijuana emitting from the vehicle.  A consent search of vehicle revealed a methamphetamine pipe, burned marijuana debris and some synthetic marijuana, also known as Spice.  The male was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and synthetic marijuana.   

      

Highlighted Activity for the Weekdays of July 30 - August 1, 2012

Theft From a Vehicle / Residential Burglary

July 30 at 1:34 a.m., a theft from a vehicle was reported in the 800 block of Alta Vista.  The suspect(s) entered the victim's unlocked vehicle, which was parked in her driveway, and removed the garage door opener.  The suspect(s) then activated the remote to access the victim's garage door.  A vacuum and a storage bin with miscellaneous clothing were missing from the garage.  Investigation continuing.  

Vandalism

July 30 at 4:23 p.m., an officer responded to a business in the 1300 block of South Myrtle regarding the report of vandalism.  Unknown suspect(s) etched graffiti into the glass window of the business.  Investigation continuing.

Theft From Vehicles

July 30 at 7:20 a.m. and 1:32 p.m., two petty thefts from vehicles were reported in the same area: the 500 to 600 blocks of West Palm.  Both vehicles were either unlocked or had the window slightly open.  In both cases, women's purses that were left in the vehicles were taken.  The purses contained small amounts of US currency and debit/credit cards. One of the stolen purses was later reported as found property at Violet and Foothill.  Investigation continuing.

Warrant / Resisting and Delaying a Peace Officer - Suspect Arrested

July 30 at 8:15 p.m., officers responded to the report of an intoxicated subject in the 900 block of Genoa.  When the officer arrived in the area, the suspect fled on foot, running through yards.  The suspect was identified and it was learned he had a felony warrant for his arrest.  After a lengthy search with the suspect eluding officers by climbing fences and running yard-to-yard, the Foothill Air Support Team helicopter was summoned and was able to locate the suspect hiding.  When he realized the helicopter had found him, the suspect tried to run again, but he was detained by officers and arrested without further incident.  The suspect was held for the warrant and resisting arrest.

Theft by Deception

August 1 at 6:06 p.m., a dark-colored Chevy Trailblazer parked in front of the office door of a car dealership in the 800 block of East Central.  A man exited the passenger door, the driver was never seen, and entered the cashier's office.  He asked the cashier if she could give him a $100 bill for two $50 dollar bills.  He handed her two $50 dollar bills and she gave him the $100.  It appears that he had secreted a $10 bill in his palm.  He quickly palmed the $100 bill and held up the $10 bill, shouting at the cashier that she only gave him ten dollars.  The cashier became nervous and took the $10 bill, while giving him another $100 bill.  The suspect then left in the waiting vehicle.  The suspect is described as a male Black, approximately 40 year old, 6'1", 200 pounds, black hair, wearing a blue hat, blue jersey with the number 23 on it, and blue shorts.  The investigation is continuing.

Assault - Suspect Arrested

August 1 at 10:36 p.m., an assault was reported in the 900 block of West Colorado.  The male victim's female friend was intoxicated and angry.  She hit him several times with a metal skillet.  He suffered lacerations, a broken finger, and pain on his head.  She was arrested without incident.

Detective Bureau Case Follow-up

Home Invasion Robbery

On July 15, 2012, a home invasion robbery occurred in the City of Monrovia.  Police are seeking help from the public in identifying the suspect.  A composite sketch of the possible suspect is available on the Police Department website Wanted Flyers section at http://www.ci.monrovia.ca.us/crime-info/police-wanted-flyers.

Tip of the Week

Living With Wildlife in Monrovia

The foothills above Monrovia are occupied by wildlife: bears, coyotes, deer, mountain lions, and bobcats.  Sometimes these wild animals venture out of the foothills and into residential neighborhoods.  Most of the time, the wildlife comes and goes without notice.  Occasionally, wildlife ventures down into the city and becomes a potential danger to humans.  Police will respond when called to a wildlife sighting and in most incidents, the primary goal is to allow the animal to leave the area and return back to the foothills.  And in most incidents, the officer's presence, use of vehicles, horns, beanbag rounds, is sufficient to encourage the animal to leave the area.  To discourage wildlife from coming down intoMonrovia neighborhoods, residents need to keep food, trash, and water sources out of reach.

There are sources such as the Department of Fish and Game who offer tips in dealing with wildlife and how to respond in an actual encounter.  Click on the links to brochures provided by the Department of Fish and Game that deal specifically with mountain lions, black bears, and other wildlife.  More and more, people and wildlife are occupying the same geographical areas; learn how to live responsibly with the wildlife around you.  Please respect and protect wild animals and help keep them wild.