Highlighted Activity for the Weekdays of January 28-30, 2013

Juvenile Problem

January 28 at 11:42 a.m., officers were dispatched to an elementary school in the 200 block of Jasmine Avenue.  A 10-year-old student was found to be in possession of a plastic Airsoft pistol.  The student said he left it in his backpack from the day before and forgot he had it in the backpack.  He showed it to a fellow student.  The fellow student later reported the incident to school personnel.  The principal called the student in and retrieved the Airsoft pistol.  There were no plastic BB's or magazine clips with the pistol.  The student's parent was notified and responded to the school.  The parent later surrendered two additional Airsoft pistols and requested Monrovia Police Department have them destroyed.  No injuries were reported and the school will be suspending the student.  The incident was documented.

Grand Theft Auto

January 28 at 7:11 p.m., police responded to the 600 block of Vaquero on the report of a stolen vehicle.  The victim parked and locked her vehicle on the street at 4 p.m. in the evening.  She returned to her vehicle the next day a little after 7 p.m. and discovered it had been stolen.  The vehicle is a blue, 1991 Toyota Camry.  The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary

January 29 at 10:33 a.m., police dispatch received an alarm call from a residence located in the 400 block of Parkrose.  The alarm was heard by neighbors who checked outside after a few minutes and saw the front door of the residence was open and called police.  Officers responded and realized the front door appeared to have been kicked open.  Containment of the area was established and the residence checked.  No suspect(s) were located or seen by neighbors.  It appears the suspect(s) kicked the front door and headed straight to the master bedroom.  The loss appears to be costume jewelry.  The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary

January 30 at 3:54 p.m., police responded to the report of a burglary in the 200 block of North Mountain.  The resident left at 7:20 a.m. and returned at 3:30 p.m.   Upon her return, she discovered her home had been broken into and ransacked.  The loss was jewelry from the master bedroom.  The suspect(s) entered through an unlocked living room window and ransacked the entire residence.  The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary

January 30 at 11:12 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 400 block of Norumbega.  The crime occurred between 2 p.m. and 11 p.m.  The suspect(s) forced open the front door and the house was ransacked.  Jewelry was stolen from the location.  The investigation is continuing.

Detective Bureau Case Follow-Up

Monrovia Police Detectives Recover Large Quantity of Stolen Property in Los Angeles County Burglaries

On January 18 at 6:21 p.m., a female called to report her daughter was suicidal and had threatened to hang herself.  Officers arrived and searched the location for the suicidal subject, but she was not at the home.  During the search for the daughter, a large cache of cameras and other electronics was found.  A female subject who was at the location was found to have a warrant for receiving stolen property.  While she was being taken into custody, the suicidal subject returned home.  She was taken to a hospital and held for a 72-hour mental evaluation.  Due to the volume of property at the location, a search warrant was obtained.  Another male subject who was wanted by the Burbank Police Department for receiving stolen property showed up at the location.  He was also arrested.  The search warrant for the location was served and resulted in the recovery of a large amount of stolen property taken in burglaries from across the Los Angeles area: Hollywood, Walnut, Chino Hills, and Hacienda Heights.

Subsequent investigation indicated more stolen property was in a storage facility in the name of the female taken into custody days before.  The storage facility was located in the city of West Covina and another search warrant was obtained for that location.  The second search warrant resulted in the recovery of another large quantity of stolen property.  The recovered property was more than what could be processed and contained at the Monrovia Police Department.  Los Angeles County Sheriff's detectives assisted with the case and are processing the recovered property.  Investigation by Los Angeles County Sheriff detectives has indicated that many of the victims of these suspects were individuals who had placed themselves on the Los Angeles Times vacation list.  These victims were subsequently burglarized and are encouraged to contact Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Detective Jack Jordan at (562) 946-7893.  Victims should be prepared to supply the police report number from the burglary and a description of the items stolen. 

Tip of the Week

Home Burglary Prevention

Criminals look for easy targets.  Burglars, watch for homes that are dark and seem to be temporarily unoccupied.  Residential burglary prevention continues to be a focus of the Monrovia Police Department.  Police officer presence in neighborhoods, investigators working surveillance, following up on leads and tips, and recovering stolen property are all part of preventing residential burglaries and property crime.  

Here is what you can do to help:

Lock all of your doors and windows when you are not home.  Leave any exterior lights on if they are not sensor activated.

Make sure that all side gates are locked and secured.

If you have an alarm system, activate it, even if you will be away for just a few minutes. 

If you have surveillance cameras affixed to the exterior of your property, make sure you periodically check them to ensure they are working properly. 

Ensure that all of your hedges and or bushes are trimmed from the front of your residence so that your house is not concealed from the street.

Never leave old newspapers, mail or door leaflets piled up on the front steps of your residence.

Never leave valuables in plain view from the outside.

If you have valuables, please secure them in either a safe or safe deposit box at your local bank.

Always take an active role in getting to know your neighborhood.

Keep your eyes open to suspicious activity in your neighborhood and always do your part as a good witness.  Never attempt to stop a crime; always call 911.

The most important deterrent in preventing property crime is you, the resident.  It is very easy for you to take an active role in keeping your property safe.  It is extremely important for residents to discourage a would-be thief and make their job as difficult and time consuming as possible.  And if you see something suspicious happening in your neighborhood, do not hesitate to call police and report it.

Highlighted Activity for the Weekend of January 24-27, 2013

Soliciting Without a License / Warrant - Suspect Arrested

On January 25 at 10:59 a.m., residents in the 1000 block of Orange called regarding two suspicious male subjects walking house to house in the rain, trying to solicit painting jobs.  In light of recent notices about distraction burglaries, officers responded to contact the subjects.  Officers located the subjects and detained them.  One of the subjects had an outstanding warrant and was arrested.  It was later determined that he had a criminal history of theft.  The second subject was identified and released.  They were both advised about handing out fliers for soliciting business without a license.

Possession of Methamphetamine / Possession of Marijuana / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia / Receiving Stolen Property - Suspect Arrested

January 26 at 11:25 a.m., a female subject drove her male friend to the police station, due to his disruptive and strange behavior, and told him to get out of the car, but the subject refused.  Officers were alerted to the problem and detained the subject.  The subject was found to have methamphetamine, a smoking pipe and marijuana in the immediate vicinity of where he was seated and in his personal property.  He was also determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance.  He had two metal handicapped parking signs in the car, which the driver stated he had placed in the vehicle.  They had apparently been ripped from a sign post or wall to which they had been affixed.  He was arrested for the offenses, including receiving stolen property.

Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision / Possession of Marijuana - Suspect Arrested

On January 26 at 12:16 p.m., dispatch received a call reporting possible drug activity taking place in the 200 block of East Maple in an alley.  Officers arrived and detained a male and female subject.  The male subject is a documented gang member and has been served Monrovia's gang injunction.  There was a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car.  The female driver was determined to be under the influence of marijuana. She had driven into the driveway area and collided with the garage door; neither subject lived at the location.  The female was arrested for driving under the influence of marijuana and possession of marijuana.  The male subject did not have possession of any marijuana and was not impaired.  He was identified and released.  

Domestic Violence / Surreptitious Recording - Suspects Arrested

On January 26 at 2:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 200 block of East Lemon regarding a male subject being battered by his ex-girlfriend.  On arrival, officers determined the female subject had battered the male subject, causing visible injury on his face and arm.  The investigation revealed that the male subject had surreptitiously recorded the female, which is what caused her to become angry.  The female was arrested for domestic violence and the male was arrested for intentionally and surreptitiously recording the female.  The argument was also over a child they have in common.  The child was in a car seat in the back seat of a car when this occurred.   The Department of Children and Family Services was notified and will receive a copy of the police report. 

Armed Robbery

On January 26 at 4:00 p.m., a female subject was getting into her car after shopping in the 500 Block of West Huntington and was confronted by a male suspect armed with a handgun.  He pointed the gun at her and demanded a ring that was on her finger and her purse, which contained her cell phone.  The suspect fled in a grey, newer-model Lexus, driven away by another male suspect.  They fled east on Huntington and then south on Mayflower.

After the incident, the victim drove home to Arcadia and called the Arcadia Police Department.  The Arcadia Police Department transferred her back to Monrovia and an officer was dispatched to interview the victim.  A broadcast was made and a teletype was sent; however, a lot of time had passed due to the delay in reporting the incident.

The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, 5' 4", 145 pounds, no facial hair, 25 to 30 years old, brown eyes, wearing a dark colored beanie and a dark jacket with a grey hooded sweatshirt underneath.  The handgun is described as possibly a black semi-automatic.  The driver of the suspect vehicle was described as a male Hispanic.  The Investigation is continuing.

Stolen Vehicle / Driving Without a License - Suspect Arrested

January 26 at 4:30 a.m., a resident from the 200 block of Norumbega came to the station to report his vehicle had been stolen.  While he was reporting the crime, an officer located the vehicle on the 605 Freeway, heading southbound.  While the officer was waiting for a back up unit, the vehicle drove west on the 10 Freeway and exited at Peck Road.  The El Monte Police Department was clearing a burglary call at Peck and Ramona and there was a large contingent of law enforcement to assist.  Once the vehicle was stopped and the subject detained, the victim drove to the location and identified the suspects as female subjects who had been drinking with him.  He signed a refusal to prosecute and no further action was taken regarding the stolen vehicle.  However, a records check showed the female who was driving the vehicle did not have a license and she had no identification.  She was arrested and taken into custody.

Fight in Progress - Suspects Arrested

January 27 at 7:18 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 400 block of West Huntington regarding a fight in progress.  The investigation revealed that two male subjects were fighting each other inside a business.  Neither party desired prosecution, but the manager of the business signed a private person's arrest against them for fighting in public and both suspects were arrested.  No one was injured during the fight.

Attempt Robbery - Suspect Arrested

On January 27 a 12:25 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 1700 block of South Mountain regarding a weapons offense that was later discovered to be an attempt robbery.  The victim is a security guard at the business and was seated in his locked vehicle with the window partially rolled down.  The suspect walked up to the victim's vehicle and demanded money from him at knife point.  When the victim refused, the suspect lunged at him with the knife, but the victim's window protected him.  The victim drove away and called the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for assistance.  Sheriff's deputies responded and found the suspect near Duarte and Buena Vista.  It was determined that the crime actually occurred in Monrovia.  The victim positively identified the suspect and the knife was recovered in the suspect's possession.  The suspect was arrested

*******************************************

Pay close attention to the door-to-door solicitors as noted in the first item in this weeks report.

Its been a while since we've had them on the street, but when someone is at the door the first thing you ask for is their MPD issued solicitors if they don't have them tell them "good bye" and call MPD, or call me and I'll do it.

It was a couple of years ago I did call on one that was snooping around my back yard.  When confronted he claimed to be selling magazines for MHS.  With my kids at MHS I knew it was BS and called MPD from my cell.  He shoved his way past which became a battery.  MPD used the 911 call I made to get a battery conviction as well as one for soliciting without a permit.

Don't respond to door to door solicitors without a permit, turn them away and call MPD.

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Highlighted Activity for the Weekdays of January 21-23, 2013

Theft From an Unlocked Vehicle

January 21 at 10:24 p.m., police responded to the report of a theft from an unlocked vehicle in the 400 block of West Huntington.  The incident occurred at approximately 6:00 p.m. in a business parking lot.  Two cell phones and a GPS were stolen.  Investigation continuing.

Commercial Burglary - Suspect Arrested

January 22 at 4:16 p.m., an employee at a business in the 500 block of West Huntington called police to report a burglary in progress.  A male suspect had entered the store and was using some type of tool to cut the sensor tags off merchandise.  He received a phone call, possibly to tell him that the police were in the area.  He then exited the store.  He was quickly detained and arrested.  The suspect was found to be on parole and is currently being monitored with an ankle bracelet.

Residential Burglary

January 22 at 9:08 p.m., a resident in the 600 block of East Greystone reported that someone had broken into their home.  The crime occurred between 3:00 and 9:00 p.m.  The suspect entered through a very small, unlocked window and ransacked the house.  Jewelry and an iPad were stolen.  The investigation is continuing.

Highlighted Activity for the Weekend of January 17-20, 2013

Residential Burglary

January 17 at 3:30 a.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 500 block of West Hillcrest.  The resident left her home at 7:00 a.m. and locked her front door.  At 10:30 a.m., she returned home and discovered someone had pried open her front door and gained entry inside.  The suspect had fled the scene prior to the resident arriving home and had stolen a 42 inch flat screen TV, a Kindle Fire tablet, and a Nintendo Wii.  The investigation is continuing.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision - Suspect Arrested

January 18 at 5:37 a.m., police responded to a hit and run traffic collision at the intersection of Huntington and Shamrock.  The suspect collided with the victim and fled the scene.  Officers located the suspect in the area and stopped him at Mountain and Huntington.  The suspect vehicle had moderate front end damage and a broken windshield.  The suspect was positively identified and a private persons arrest was made.

Grand Theft Auto Recovery / Hit and Run Traffic Collision

January 18 at 7:37 a.m., an officer observed a speeding vehicle weaving through traffic while traveling eastbound at Huntington and Ivy.  The officer followed the vehicle, which turned south onto California.  The vehicle, a Toyota Tacoma pickup, continued at a high rate of speed, weaving back and forth.  The officer attempted a traffic stop, but as he did so, the driver attempted to turn east onto Los Angeles and lost control of the truck, which crashing through the fence of a residence on the southeast corner of California and Los Angeles.  The driver immediately exited the truck and jumped over a wall on the south side of the property.

A perimeter was set up to contain the suspect; however, he was not located.  Subsequent investigation included the owner of the truck making a grand theft auto report.  The person who reported the truck stolen was not the suspect driver the officer observed.  The investigation is continuing.

Driving on a Suspended License / Warrant - Suspect Arrested

January 18 at 8:50 a.m., an officer on patrol observed a suspicious white van driving east on Hillcrest from Madison and turned his police car around to check on the van.  The driver pulled over some distance ahead and walked toward a group of three construction workers standing in front of a home that is under construction.  The officer exited his vehicle and spoke to the group.  He asked a few questions and realized the three construction workers did not really know the subject who had exited from the van.  The driver had pulled over and attempted to mingle with the subjects, hoping to fool the officer.  The officer determined the driver of the van was driving on a suspended license and had an outstanding warrant for driving under the influence.  He was arrested and taken into custody for the charges and his vehicle was stored.   

Possession of a Controlled Substance / Warrant - Suspect Arrested

January 18 at 4:47 p.m., dispatch received a call reporting a suspicious person possibly using or dealing drugs in front of a business in the 100 block of West Foothill.  An officer responded and detained the suspect and determined he had illegal possession of the prescription drug, Xanax.  He also had an outstanding warrant.  The suspect was arrested.

Suicidal Subject / Warrants - Two Suspects Arrested

January 18 at 6:21 p.m., a female subject called to report her daughter was suicidal and had threatened to hang herself.  Officers arrived and searched the location for the suicidal subject, but she was not at the home.  During the search of the house, a large cache of cameras and other electronics was found.  A female subject who was at the location was found to have a warrant for receiving stolen property.  While she was being taken into custody, the suicidal subject returned home.  She was taken to a hospital and held for a 72-hour mental evaluation.  Because of the volume of property at the location, a search warrant was served.  Another male subject who was wanted by the Burbank Police Department for receiving stolen property showed up at the location.  He was also arrested.  The investigation is continuing.

Narcotics Warrant - Suspect Arrested

January 19 at 10:23 a.m., officers went to a residence in the 200 block of West Palm seeking a subject wanted on a narcotics related arrest warrant.  Upon their arrival, the subject fled to the garage and attempted to hide.  He climbed through the attic area of the garage which connects to two neighboring garages.  Officers convinced him to climb back into his garage and surrender himself.  He was arrested and taken into custody without further incident. 

No-Bail Warrant / Possession of Marijuana - Suspect Arrested

January 19 at 3:37 p.m., an anonymous caller reported the location of a subject who was wanted on a no-bail warrant.  The subject was at a business in the 100 block of West Huntington with several other subjects who were thought to be gang members.  When officers arrived and approached, the suspect attempted to flee.  Officers detained him, but he continued to resist.  He was eventually subdued and arrested.  The suspect was also found to be in possession of marijuana.  One of the officers received minor injuries in the altercation.

 

Commercial Burglary - Suspects Arrested

January 20 at 3:17 p.m., two brothers entered a business in the 300 block of West Huntington with an empty, but sealed, Kindle box and returned it for cash.  One brother distracted the manger, while the other brother returned the box.  When the employee went to open the box, the suspect turned and ran.  The other brother had exited the store just prior.  An officer responded and was able to locate one of the suspects and arrested him for burglary.  The brother who took the money was still outstanding.  Later that evening, the outstanding suspect turned himself in at the Monrovia Police Department and he was also arrested for burglary.

Vehicle Burglary

January 14 at 6:54 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 1000 block of Orange Avenue.  The victim's vehicle was parked in the driveway.  The victim reported the vehicle was locked, but there was no sign of forced entry.  The loss was an empty case for sunglasses and a cord for an Ipod.  Investigation continuing. 

Commercial Burglary / Fraud / Identity Theft - Suspects Arrested

January 15 at 4:51 p.m., an employee of a business in the 400 block of West Huntington called to report a possible fraud incident at their location.  Three suspects entered the business, selected merchandise and went to the registers.  Two of the suspects claimed they forgot their store credit card and were allowed to enter their social security number on the touch pad and presented identification.  The employee believed the identification to be fraudulent and notified store security and a store manager.  The employee delayed the subjects until officers could arrive. 

Upon their arrival, the officers arrested two of the suspects for burglary, identity theft, forgery and other charges.  The third suspect was arrested for an outstanding warrant.  During an inventory search in the jail, the arresting officer noticed a receipt which indicated one of the suspects purchased over $4,500 in merchandise from a store in Duarte.  The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department was notified regarding the incident in their city. 

Burglary / Felony Vandalism

January 16 at 6:30 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 200 block of East Lime.  The victim left the residence to visit a relative in the front house between 5:30 to 6:00 p.m.  When she returned, she found someone had entered her home and smashed her computer, television, and a lamp.  Nothing was stolen.  There were no signs of forced entry.  The victim suspects the ex-boyfriend of her daughter, who had a key to the residence.  It appears the suspect entered the home with the intent of committing felony vandalism.  Investigation continuing.

Residential Burglary

January 16 at 9:42 p.m., police responded to a residence in the 500 block of North Alta Vista on the report of a residential burglary.  The victim left home at 8:30 a.m., and when she returned at 9:35 p.m., she found her home had been ransacked.  The suspect pried open the rear door to gain entry.  A handgun, iPad and jewelry were stolen.  Investigation continuing. 

Monrovia Police Department Seeks Help Identifying Battery Suspect

The Monrovia Police Department is seeking the public's help in identifying the suspect of a battery incident that occurred in Old Town Monrovia on New Year's Day.  Below is a sketch artist's rendering of the possible suspect.  If you were a witness or have any information as to the identity of the suspect in this crime, please contact Detective Rob Wilken of the Monrovia Police Department at (626) 256-8000.

Highlighted Activity for the Weekend of January 10-13, 2013

Commercial Burglary

On January 11 at 7:00 a.m., the owner of a business in the 1600 block of California arrived at work to discover the lock on the front gate had been cut and 14 lawnmowers were stolen from a side yard.  The last employee closed the business the night before at 5:15 p.m.  Investigation continuing. 

Traffic Collision / Vehicle vs. Bicyclist

On January 12 at 10:24 a.m., a driver stopped at a red light on the 210 westbound off-ramp.  When the light turned green, she began to make a right turn onto westbound Huntington, but did not look to her left to see a bicyclist was traveling west and had not yet cleared the intersection.  The bicyclist struck the front left fender of the vehicle, toppling him to the ground, causing no visible injuries; however, he was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for complaint of pain.

Driving Under the Influence / Possession of a Controlled Substance - Suspect Arrested

On January 13 at 12:50 a.m., an officer stopped a motorist for a traffic infraction.  The officer determined the motorist was intoxicated and arrested the driver for driving under the influence.  After the suspect was arrested and taken to the jail, a booking search was conducted and a small bindle of cocaine was found in the suspect's jacket pocket.   The suspect was charged for the additional violation.

Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision - Suspect Arrested

On January 13 at 2:00 a.m., officers responded to a traffic collision in the 100 block of East Central.  When officers arrived, they discovered property damage at three different residences as a result of the collision.  Further investigation revealed the collision originated at the westbound 210 Myrtle off-ramp.  CHP arrived and took over the scene.  The driver was determined to be driving under the influence and he was arrested by CHP.  The suspect vehicle was a Chevy Silverado pickup truck.

Critical Missing Person Located

On January 13 at 1:08 p.m., police were dispatched to the 200 block of East Palm regarding a missing 9-year-old boy.  The grandparents reported the child missing after church.  The boy thought he saw his grandmother's car and ran to it.  He was not seen after.  Units searched downtown Monrovia and possible routes the child might walk.  He was found at home in the backyard playing

Highlighted Activity for the Weekdays of January 7-9, 2013

Bomb Threat - Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Office

January 8 at 10:35 a.m., the ABC office in the 200 block of East Huntington received a phone call from a male subject who was upset about losing his ABC license.  He had the wrong state office, but he still threatened to blow the place up.  The building was evacuated along with several nearby buildings.  Police and fire department personnel searched the building for any possible packages or devices.  No suspicious items were found and the building was cleared.  The California Highway Patrol will be investigating the incident. 

Receiving Stolen Property - Suspect Arrested

January 9 at 8:20 p.m., an officer on patrol stopped a vehicle in the 100 block of West Duarte for a traffic violation.  During a search of the vehicle, a backpack containing 36 Macy's gift cards, three laptop computers, and a Visa card in another subject's name were found.  The suspect was arrested for receiving stolen property, and a computer check revealed that the suspect was a parolee-at-large.     

Theft From a Vehicle

January 9 at 9:08 p.m., a theft from a vehicle parked in a parking lot in the 500 block of South Mountain was reported to police.  While the victim was in a business at the location, an unknown suspect stole an iPod from her unlocked vehicle.  The investigation is continuing. 

Vehicle Burglary

January 9 at 9:23 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported from a business parking lot in the 700 block of East Huntington.  The victim's wallet was stolen from inside his vehicle while he was in the business.  The victim reported that his vehicle was locked.  There were no signs of forced entry.  The investigation is continuing.

Tip of the Week

Vehicle Burglary Prevention

Thieves look for easy and inviting targets when it comes to selecting a vehicle to burglarize or steal from.  It is up to you to make every effort to prevent your car from being targeted.  Here are some basic tips that will make your vehicle a little less inviting to a thief:

*  LOCK your car!

*  Always park in well-lighted areas.

*  Install motion lights in your driveway.

*  Install and use a vehicle alarm.

*  DO NOT leave valuables in plain view.

*  Leave all items of value at home if possible.

* Look around when you park. Notice anyone or anything suspicious? Write down license plates and descriptions. Alert on-site security or staff and CALL the police.

Many auto burglaries or thefts from cars occur right in a residential driveway and too often it is because the vehicle was never locked.  Suspects will often target cars that are left unlocked, walking up and down a street trying car doors all the way.  Take the time to secure your vehicle.  Other thieves target victims by watching what is placed inside a trunk or hatch. If you plan on stopping by the gym, park, or elsewhere after work, take the time before you leave to place your belongings safely in the trunk. Don't wait until you park to then transfer your laptop, purse, bag, or briefcase to the trunk. Thieves may be watching and targeting your car.  These are just a few tips to help prevent you from becoming a victim of auto burglary. Be proactive, look around, and most importantly, don't hesitate to call the police if you see something or someone suspicious.

Highlighted Activity for the Weekend of January 3-6, 2013

Traffic Collision / Felony Driving Under the Influence / Child Endangerment - Suspect Arrested

January 3 at 4:04 p.m., a traffic collision involving three vehicles occurred at Madison and Foothill.  Officers responded and determined the female driver who caused the collision was intoxicated.  Her 13-year-old daughter was injured in the collision and was taken to a nearby hospital.  The female driver was arrested for felony driving under the influence, child endangerment and driving with a suspended license.  The Los Angeles County Department of Children Services was notified of the incident.

Driving Under the Influence - Suspect Arrested

January 5 at 1:08 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 500 block of West Duarte regarding a driver that was heading eastbound on Duarte and collided into three parked vehicles.  Officers arrived and determined the driver was intoxicated and was driving under the influence.  The driver was arrested and taken into custody.

Armed Robbery

January 5 at 3:45 p.m., police responded to the report of an armed robbery.  A 20-year-old, male subject was at a coin-operated car wash in the 400 block of West Duarte Road when he was approached by a male suspect.  The suspect displayed a handgun in his waistband and demanded the victim's wallet and cell phone.  The victim gave his wallet to the suspect and told him he did not have a cell phone.  The suspect took the wallet and fled westbound on Duarte Road.

The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, 20 to 30 years old, wearing a black T-shirt with a picture of "Che Guvarra" on it and the name written in white letters, baggie blue jeans, and Adidas tennis shoes.  The suspect is approximately 5' 8" tall, thin build, with a black moustache.  There was a light grey, 1990's Acura Integra that pulled up to the area where the suspect fled and the car may be associated with the suspect.  The loss was a wallet containing approximately $70 and miscellaneous credit cards.  There were no injuries.  Police searched the area and notified surrounding agencies.  The suspect was not located.  The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary

January 5 at 6:30 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 500 block of North Alta Vista.  The resident left his home at 5:00 p.m. to walk his dogs and left the house and garage unlocked.  He returned at 6:30 p.m. and discovered someone had taken an iPhone and two iPads from his residence.  There were no signs of forced entry.  The investigation is continuing.

Structure Fire With Injuries

January 6 at 5:01 a.m., officers responded to the report of a structure fire in the 200 block of East Walnut.  Upon arrival, they found a residence engulfed in flames.  It appears three male occupants were attempting to make a substance called honey oil from marijuana in the home and caused the fire.  Making honey oil in a confined, poorly ventilated space like a bedroom is extremely dangerous.  The Monrovia Fire Department is investigating to determine the exact cause of the fire.  

All three suspects were seriously burned and were taken to a hospital for treatment for their injuries.  They are expected to survive.  The homeowners were in another room and were able to escape unharmed.  Monrovia officers are investigating the possibility these men were making honey oil illegally and will file charges if the investigation reveals they have committed a crime.   

Critical Missing Person Located

January 6 at 5:27 p.m., police were dispatched to a home for the elderly in the 100 block of South Myrtle regarding a critical missing person who had walked away from the location.  The elderly male subject wears a Project Lifesaver bracelet, which is a tracking device that can be used to locate him.  Officers were able to utilize the Project Lifesaver System and located the elderly man at a nearby church.  He was not injured and was returned to the facility.  The missing subject was located quickly once the Project Lifesaver was activated.

Highlighted Activity for December 20, 2012 - January 2, 2013

Residential Hot Prowl

December 21 at 6:24 a.m., a female resident in the 400 block of Hill Street reported a prowler attempting to break into her home.  Her sister had left the location at 6:10 a.m., and within approximately 10 minutes, she heard the door bell.  She was getting up to see who was at the door and saw a flashlight from the outside.  She then heard the sliding glass door breaking.  She ran to the area were the sliding glass door is and saw a male suspect wearing dark clothing and a dark hat.  The suspect saw the resident and fled through the backyard, out of sight.  The resident called police.  Officers arrived and searched the area, but were unable to locate the suspect.  Investigation continuing.

Wanted Person / Resisting and Delaying a Peace Officer - Suspect Arrested

December 21 at 6:26 p.m., Special Enforcement Team officers conducted a traffic stop at Los Angeles and Ivy.  During a vehicle search, they found items in the vehicle belonging to a subject wanted by the Monrovia Police Department.  The vehicle was seen leaving an address in the 100 block of Los Angeles and there was a large group of people at the residence.  An officer responded to see if the suspect was at the location.  While the officer was speaking with some of the subjects outside the residence, he saw the wanted suspect.  The suspect then turned and walked into the house, disregarding the officer's order to stop.  Containment of the area was set up by Monrovia officers, along with assisting officers from Arcadia Police Department.  A search was then conducted of the residence and adjacent homes with the help of the Foothill Air Support Team helicopter, but the suspect was not located.

The next day, December 22, security officers from the Santa Anita Mall in Arcadia responded to a disturbance and subsequently escorted a male subject out of the mall.  He was told not to return.  The subject initially left the location, but then returned.  When mall security went to detain him for trespassing the subject ran and jumped off a second story parking structure to get away.  The mall security officers chased down and detained the subject.  The subject was determined to be the suspect wanted by Monrovia Police Department.  He was booked at Arcadia Police Department for the new charges and then taken to Monrovia Police Department, where he was booked and housed.

Possession of a Controlled Substance / Warrant / Parole Hold - Suspect Arrested

December 21 at 9:24 p.m., an officer on patrol saw a bicyclist roll through a stop sign. The officer conducted a traffic stop and found the subject had marijuana and methamphetamine in his possession.  He also had an outstanding warrant.  He was arrested and taken into custody.

Fight in Progress / Drunk in Public / Possession of a Controlled Substance - Suspect Arrested

December 21 at 11:31 p.m., officers responded to a business location in the 300 block of West Huntington on the report of two subjects fighting.  Both suspects signed a refusal to prosecute; however, one of suspects was determined to be drunk in public and was taken into custody.  During a search, he was found to be in possession of marijuana and methamphetamine.  He was arrested for the charges.

Vandalism / Grand Theft Auto Recovered

December 27 at 5:42 a.m., a delivery man reported a broken window at a business in the 100 block of West Huntington.  While officers were investigating the vandalism, they ran the license plate of a vehicle parked in the lot and found it had been stolen from the City of La Crescenta.  The vehicle was recovered and the Investigation is continuing.

Welfare Check

December 27 at 3:02 p.m., police received a call regarding a 76-year-old male subject who had not been seen by neighbors for several days.  The neighbors reported that the subject had not been feeling well.  Officer checked the residence and it was locked up and they could not see anyone inside.  As the officers questioned neighbors further, they believed the subject would have taken his vehicle, which was parked in the driveway, had he left to visit relatives.  The officers decided to force a rear door open.  The subject was found inside the home in need of medical attention.  Paramedics were dispatched and the subject was taken to a hospital for treatment.  The residence was secured.

Petty Theft / Weapons Offense - Suspect Arrested

December 28 at 7:29 p.m., an officer on patrol in the 300 block of West Huntington Drive observed a juvenile being detained at the front of a store by the store manager.  The manager flagged the officer down and advised that the juvenile had stolen merchandise.  During a search of the juvenile, a modified knife blade with the flat side sharpened to an edge was found in his back pocket.  The juvenile was arrested and booked.  He was cited for the above listed offenses and then released to his older brother, who is his current guardian.

Vandalism - Two Suspects Arrested

December 28 at 10:49 p.m., two witnesses observed four male juveniles tagging several city signs, signal boxes, light poles and private property windows on Huntington Drive and called police.  Officers responded and detained the four juveniles who matched the description of the suspects.  Two of the juveniles were positively identified by witnesses as the suspects who committed the vandalism.  They were arrested and taken into custody.  The other two subjects were identified and released.  Several other locations on Myrtle Avenue and Huntington Drive were vandalized with similar type graffiti.  The two witnesses were advised of Monrovia Police Department's Stop Graffiti Bounty Program and each will be rewarded with a $100 bill for reporting the incident of graffiti which led to the arrest of the suspects.

Drunk in Public - Suspect Arrested

December 31 at 10:41 p.m., a female resident in the 700 block of West Colorado reported a male subject knocking on her door and trying to get into her house.  The resident's father chased the subject away from the home.  An officer responded and detained the subject at Violet and Colorado.  He told officers that he was knocking on the resident's door because he thought it was his house.  He was determined to be intoxicated and was arrested for being drunk in public.      

Battery

January 1 at 2:03 a.m., officers responded to the area of Myrtle and Chestnut regarding a report of battery.  The male victim and his girlfriend were walking south on Myrtle when they noticed three male Hispanic subjects behind them.  As they walked, one of the male subjects suddenly came up from behind and started punching the victim, knocking him to the ground.  The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment.  The victim was not cooperative with officers.  Investigation continuing. 

Violation of Restraining Order - Suspect Arrested

January 1 at 2:45 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 200 block of West Central on the report of a male subject in violation of a restraining order.  Officers arrived and arrested the suspect who was found outside the front door of the residence in violation of the court order.