Welcome to the Poinsettia Avenue Blog. This is where you can come for news regarding what is going on the street, all the important stuff without the gossip. Our first few posts will focus on Neighborhood Watch.
Do submit your topics for conversation and news as well.
Just a reminder, 6:30PM Thursday 6/6 at 225 Poinsettia Avenue is the next Neighborhood Watch Meeting.
In the mean time if you value it, don't leave it in the car. Lock your cars when you park for the night. Lock your home when you leave, even if for a few minutes.
Vehicle Burglary
June 9 at 7:31 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 2500 block of S. Peck Road. The victim parked and locked his vehicle on the street in front of his residence the evening prior. When he returned to his vehicle in the morning, he discovered the passenger window had been shattered. The suspect entered the vehicle and rummaged through the glovebox and center console. The victim did not know exactly what was taken, if anything. The investigation is continuing. Indecent Exposure
June 9 at 12:30 p.m., a female victim reported an incident of indecent exposure that had just occurred at Mayflower and Walnut. The female victim was walking at Mayflower and Walnut when a faded, pale green, four-door SUV stopped next to her. The male driver asked for directions. As she approached the vehicle to give him directions, she saw he was exposing himself. She immediately turned and walked quickly back to her place of business. She had security call police to report the incident. The victim described the suspect as a male white in his late 30's to early 40's with dark brown hair, average build, a pointy nose, and wearing a dark colored t-shirt. The investigation is continuing. Injury Traffic Collision
June 9 at 7:45 p.m., officers responded to the report of an injury traffic collision at the intersection of Foothill and Canyon. Witnesses reported that a vehicle heading east on Foothill Boulevard ran a red light and struck a male, adult pedestrian in the crosswalk. The pedestrian sustained several breaks in his left leg, a broken nose and several lacerations. He was taken to a hospital for treatment. Vehicle Burglary
June 10 at 10:22 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 200 block of N. Myrtle. The vehicle was broken into sometime overnight. There were no signs of forced entry. Miscellaneous items were taken. The investigation is continuing. Bear Incident
June 10 at 10:29 a.m., a bear was reported in the 600 block of Hacienda going yard to yard. The Department of Fish and Wildlife responded, tranquilized the bear and took it back into the foothills, where it was released. The bear was a 200 pound female in good health that had not been tagged. Trespassing – Subjects Advised
June 10 at 8:54 p.m., officers were dispatched to a residential burglary in progress in the 1100 block of Norumbega Drive. The reporting party was house sitting for the resident. When she arrived at the location, she saw the lights inside turn on and off. She then saw a male subject exit the front door and she called police.
Officers responded and two male juveniles were located on the property with the assistance of the Foothill Air Support Team helicopter. Through investigation, officers discovered the residence had been listed on social media as having a house party. The homeowner was contacted and told that his teenage son had given permission to friends to have a party while he was on vacation. The owner refused to prosecute; all parties were advised.
Public Intoxication – Suspects Arrested
June 10 at 9:17 p.m., a fight in progress was reported in the 100 block of W. Foothill. Bike patrol officers arrived and located a subject matching the description of one of the reported subjects involved in the fight. While speaking with the subject, a female subject approached. Both subjects were extremely intoxicated and determined to be unable to care for themselves. Police were unable to substantiate that a fight had taken place. Both suspects were arrested for public intoxication and held for sobering. Criminal Threats – Suspect Arrested
June 10 at 9:15 p.m., a female victim called police to report that her estranged husband has been verbally threatening her. The victim showed the officers text messages she had recently received from him that threatened he was going to kill her and that she was about to die. Officers searched for the suspect at local locations and found his vehicle parked in the 600 block of E. Cypress. The suspect was inside the vehicle and was detained. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded firearm. The suspect was arrested for criminal threats and taken into custody. Warrant – Suspects Arrested
June 10 at 9:30 p.m., two suspicious subjects were reportedly breaking into a vehicle in the 300 block of S. Myrtle. The Foothill Air Support Team helicopter was nearby and guided officers to the location of the suspicious subjects. The subjects were located inside their own vehicle and one of the subjects had a warrant for his arrest. No vehicle burglaries were located. The suspect was arrested for the warrant. Vehicle Burglary
June 11 at 2:49 a.m., a vehicle with a shattered window was reported in the 700 block of W. Huntington Drive. Officers arrived and found the vehicle had been broken into and
the contents were strewn about inside the vehicle. Officers were unable to locate the registered owner. The investigation is continuing. Residential Burglary
June 11 at 3:25 a.m., a homeowner in the 400 block of E. Almond Avenue called police to report her residence had been burglarized. Police responded and found the interior of the residence had been ransacked. A small safe had been broken into and the contents were missing. The home was empty during the time of the burglary. The investigation is continuing. Grand Theft Auto
June 11 at 9:45 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 1800 block of Encino. The vehicle is a gray Toyota Camry and it was stolen from the driveway of the residence sometime overnight. The investigation is continuing. Stolen Vehicle Recovered – Suspect Arrested
June 11 at 8:33 p.m., officers located a reported stolen vehicle in a parking structure in the 100 block of W. Colorado. The vehicle was believed to be stolen by two subjects that have been committing vehicle burglaries in town. Officers watched the vehicle hoping the suspects would return. At 1:50 a.m., one of the suspects returned and attempted to drive the vehicle out of the parking structure. The vehicle was stopped by officers and the suspect was taken into custody. The investigation is continuing. Residential Burglary
June 11 at 9:00 p.m., a resident in the 1800 block of Tenth Avenue called police to report his home had been burglarized while he and his family were out of the country. He indicated they have been gone for the past four months traveling. The rear window to a door was shattered and the home had been ransacked. A list is being compiled of the stolen property. The loss was extensive and the investigation is continuing. Possession of Drug Paraphernalia/Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
June 12 at 7:00 a.m., a caller reported suspicious subjects in the stairway of a parking structure in the 100 block of W. Colorado. When officers arrived, they saw a male adult drop a meth pipe on the ground. The suspect was found to be under the influence of a controlled substance and in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested for the charges and taken into custody. Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
June 12 at 9:54 p.m., officers responded to the report of possible domestic abuse. They arrived and determined that there had been an argument between family members and the husband punched the wife in the face. He was arrested and an emergency protection order was obtained.
Don’t Fill Your Vehicle With Presents for Thieves!
It only takes a few seconds for thieves to break into your vehicle and steal your valuables.
It only takes a few seconds to remove your valuables and secure your vehicle - Don't Be a Victim!
Auto-burglary prevention starts by limiting the criminal's opportunity to commit the crime and can be accomplished with very little time and effort. Criminals are looking for something to steal - don't supply the valuables. Leaving your valuables in your vehicle instantly makes your car a target for thieves.
Commercial Burglary
June 6 at 6:36 a.m., an employee at a business in the 3000 block of S. Peck Road called police to report a burglary. They opened up the business in the morning and discovered someone had cut their office alarm system, then cut a hole through a wall of their office trailer. The suspects rummaged through the office. The investigation is continuing. Vehicle Burglary
June 6 at 6:39 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of N. Grand Avenue reported that three of his vehicles had been burglarized. The suspect entered by unknown means into all three locked vehicles and took miscellaneous items belonging to the victim. The investigation is continuing. Mountain Lion Sighting
June 6 at 6:57 a.m., a resident in the 200 block of Monroe reported seeing a mountain lion in their backyard. When officers arrived, the mountain lion was gone. They checked the area, but could not locate the lion. Vehicle Burglary
June 6 at 7:40 a.m., a resident in the 500 block of Scenic walked outside his home to go to work and discovered two of his vehicles and his neighbor’s vehicle had been burglarized. He parked his car the day before at approximately 3:00 p.m. He advised the officer that he definitely had locked his car, however, there was no sign of forced entry. Officers believe the suspect had some type of keyless entry device to overcome the lock. The suspect took miscellaneous items from the vehicles. The investigation is ongoing. Shoplifing – Suspect Arrested
June 6 at 2:32 p.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington regarding a male adult who was being detained for shoplifting. The suspect
had stolen miscellaneous clothing and had been detained outside the store with the stolen merchandise. Officers arrived, investigated and arrested the suspect.
Injury Traffic Collision
June 6 at 5:05 p.m., officers and Fire Department personnel were dispatched to an injury traffic collision that just occurred in the 200 block of N. Primrose. The investigation revealed the driver of a red vehicle traveling northbound at a high rate of speed lost control and swerved into a parked truck, then continued north on Primrose, leaving several feet of skid marks and crashing into an Edison light pole. Edison responded to repair the pole. The driver was charged with multiple vehicle code violations. Driving Under the Influence/Evading a Police Officer – Suspect Arrested
June 7 at 12:11 a.m., a female adult called police to report that her purse had been stolen by a suspect who was driving a stolen vehicle in the 700 block of E. Huntington. She was following the suspect in her friend's vehicle. Officers responded and located the stolen vehicle near Huntington and Mount Olive. The driver failed to yield to officers. He eventually stopped near his residence in Duarte. The driver was found to be driving under the influence and was too impaired to drive a motor vehicle safely. He had taken the vehicle without his in-law's permission. The owner of the vehicle did not want to prosecute and the female victim’s purse was not found in the vehicle. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence and evading officers. Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
June 7 at 2:10 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 1600 block of Venice Avenue. A resident in the area called police to report a suspicious male subject walking around their street. Officers arrived and contacted the subject. As they were approaching, they saw the subject throw a methamphetamine pipe on the ground. The subject was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia. Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
June 7 at 6:41 p.m., loss prevention personnel at a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called police to report a theft. A male and female suspect entered the store and selected clothing merchandise. The suspects entered the dressing room, concealed merchandise on their person, and then left the store without paying. Loss prevention personnel were able to write down the license plate of the suspect vehicle. Officers located the vehicle at a residence in the City of Montebello and contacted the two suspects. The suspects admitted to the crime and the merchandise was recovered. The case will be presented to the District Attorney seeking theft charges against the suspects. Bear Incident
June 8 at 10:08 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 900 block of Norumbega regarding the report of a large bear in a backyard. Officers arrived and deployed two beanbag rounds at the bear, which caused the bear to climb a tree in the yard. Officers advised residents to stay indoors and wait for the bear to come down. Officers received a second call hours later when the bear was in the yard again. They responded and were able to persuade the bear to go back up into the foothills. Grand Theft Auto
June 8 at 2:30 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 800 block of W. Olive Avenue. The victim parked his vehicle across the street from his residence in the evening and went to bed. The victim awoke to the sound of his vehicle engine being started. He jumped out of bed, looked out the window and saw his vehicle being driven away. The investigation is continuing. Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
June 8 at 6:40 p.m., officers were sent to the 400 block of S. Myrtle regarding a disturbing female subject who was swearing at passersby. Officers contacted the subject and determined she was too intoxicated to care for herself. The suspect was arrested and held for a sobering period. She was later released with a citation to appear in court. Vandalism
June 8 at 7:01 p.m., the caretaker of a church located in the 100 block of W. Palm came to the police station to report a vandalism. A suspect wrote graffiti on a staircase wall with a marker. The investigation is continuing. False Information to a Peace Officer
June 8 at 9:57 p.m., officers were dispatched to the parking lot of a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain Avenue regarding three subjects who appeared to be selling merchandise from the trunk of a parked vehicle. Officers made contact with the subjects, but they denied selling items without a permit. During the investigation, one of the subjects could not produce any form of identification. He verbally provided false information to the officer in attempts to elude an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He admitted to lying to the officer and was arrested for providing false information to a peace officer and the outstanding warrant.
Hit and Run Traffic Collision
June 2 at 12:32 p.m., an officer responded to Fifth and Huntington regarding a hit and run traffic collision. A witness reported that an 18 wheeler truck turned the corner too sharp and knocked the signal down on the northwest corner, causing the traffic lights to malfunction. The truck did not stop for the collision. While the officer was investigating, the truck driver returned to the scene. The driver claimed he wanted to get something to eat before returning. The driver was issued a citation. Fugitive Warrant – Suspect Arrested
June 2 at 2:10 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the area of Myrtle and Cherry when he saw a subject that he knew was wanted. The suspect had a federal fugitive warrant for his arrest. The suspect was in a vehicle with two other occupants. The officer confirmed there was a full extradition weapons warrant for the suspect’s arrest. He contacted the occupants in the vehicle. The suspect was arrested on the warrant and a female occupant in the vehicle was arrested for identity theft. Embezzlement – Suspect Arrested
June 2 at 2:40 p.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain regarding an employee being detained for embezzlement. The detained employee was a head cashier. The employee was processing fictitious customer return receipts and keeping the return money. The employee was arrested for embezzlement and taken into custody. Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
June 3 at 12:16 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation in the area of Peck Road and Live Oak. When the officer contacted the driver, he noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from inside the vehicle. Through investigation, the driver was determined to be driving under the influence. He was arrested and held for a sobering period. He was later released on a citation to appear in court. Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
June 3 at 8:50 p.m., a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called police to report a theft. The suspect shoplifted from the store and fled the area. After investigating the
crime, officers checked the area and located the suspect. He admitted to the theft. Over $500 in stolen property was recovered and the suspect was arrested. Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
June 4 at 1:00 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 500 block of W. Huntington when he observed a vehicle driving on the wrong side of the road, traveling west in the eastbound lanes. He stopped the vehicle, and the investigation resulted in the driver's arrest for driving under the influence. The driver stated he had been drinking at home and had taken prescription medication. He was arrested and held for a sobering period. He was later released on a citation to appear in court. Hit and Run Traffic Collision
June 4 at 6:40 p.m., officers were dispatched to California and Walnut regarding a hit and run traffic collision. The suspect vehicle was traveling south on California and struck a parked vehicle and a tree. The suspect vehicle fled the scene. Officers located the suspect vehicle and interviewed the driver. The driver admitted to fleeing the scene. The case will be submitted to the District Attorney's office for filing consideration. Fraud / Identity Theft – Suspects Arrested
June 4 at 8:54 p.m., staff from a hotel in the 1100 block of E. Huntington called police to report a subject that rented a room using a stolen credit card. The officers contacted the two occupants of the room and gained consent to search the room. The officers found stolen mail, stolen checks, and equipment used to alter and make access cards. The two suspects were arrested for mulitple charges of fraud and identity theft. Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested
June 5 at 12:48 a.m., officers responded to the police department lobby regarding a battery that had just occurred. The investigation revealed that the victim was involved in a dating relationship with the known suspect. The two had been involved in an argument and the suspect grabbed the victim by the arms and pulled her hair. Officers contacted the suspect at his residence and arrested him for domestic violence. Grand Theft Auto – Suspect Arrested
June 5 at 8:42 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen in the 100 block of East Cherry. The victim resides in the same house as the suspect. The suspect took the vehicle without permission sometime during the night. The victim has never allowed the suspect to use his vehicle and he desired prosecution. Officers searched the area and found the suspect walking a block away. The vehicle was also located several blocks away parked on the street. The suspect denied having possession of the vehicle, but witnesses stated she gave them a ride that night in the stolen vehicle. The suspect was arrested for grand theft auto. Vehicle Burglary
June 5 at 7:30 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 1300 block of S. Magnolia Avenue. Several items were stolen from inside the victim’s locked vehicle. There were no signs of forced entry, but a metal rod was located near the vehicle that could have been used to wedge the door open to gain access. The investigation is continuing.
For the third night in less than a week several cars were burglarized on the street. Several of the victims admitted to leaving their cars unlocked. Locking the cars seems to be the most effective deterrent to these "handle checkers" who walk the street late at night looking for unlocked cars.
IF YOU VALUE IT TAKE IT OUT OF THE CAR AND LOCK THE CAR.
The most alarming instance took place at 4:30AM. Ron saw a neighbors car being burglarized, attempted to be opened with tools and called the police. It took 20 minutes for the police to arrive.(Edit 6/8 according to MPD records it was 9-11 minutes from time of call to arrival on the scene).
June 16, 6:30PM is the next Neighborhood Watch Meeting. Flyers to go out this week. Please encourage those around you to attend. In the meeting we want to make it clear we want routine patrols of the street at night to help minimize the "handle checkers" that come up here unimpeded.
May 30 at 9:04 a.m., police received a call of a suspicious vehicle on Patrician Way. When officers arrived, they located a vehicle occupied by a male and female adult. During the investigation, the officers discovered the female driver was in possession of blank credit cards and personal information belonging to numerous subjects. The female suspect was arrested and taken into custody for identity theft and credit card fraud. The male subject was released.
Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
May 30 at 8:31 p.m., an officer on patrol stopped a bicyclist for vehicle code violations at Ivy and Maple. A consent search of the subject revealed a methamphetamine pipe in his possession. He was arrested and taken into custody. He was issued a citation to appear in court on the charges.
Commercial Burglary
May 31 at 8:03 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a business in the 900 block of W. Duarte Road on the report of a burglary. Employees arrived for work in the morning and discovered the business had been burglarized. The suspect entered the business by cutting a hole in the roof with an axe. Once inside, the suspect was able to disable the alarm and cut a hole in the side of a safe with a steel cutter. The suspect stole cash from the safe and fled the location back through the roof. The investigation is continuing.
Fraud / False Information to a Peace Officer – Suspect Arrested
May 31 at 6:29 p.m., a resident in the 300 block of California called police to report that an adult female had come by her house twice, stating she was there to pick up two envelopes that UPS and the Postal Service had delivered. The resident refused to give her the envelopes and called the police. An officer responded and detained the female suspect a block away from the residence. The female suspect gave officers a fraudulent driver's license with a false name on it. The suspect's identification showed the address where the envelopes were delivered. The two envelopes contained two credit cards with the suspect's alias on them. The suspect was arrested for several fraud charges and giving false information to a police officer.
Injury Traffic Collision
May 31 at 8:27 p.m., officers responded to a traffic collision at the intersection of Mountain and Valley View. A van hit a parked car. After evaluating the driver, it appeared he may have had a medical emergency that caused him to hit the parked vehicle. He was checked by Monrovia Fire Department paramedics and taken to the hospital.
Counterfeit US Currency
May 31 at 9:16 p.m., a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called police to report a patron passing two counterfeit $50 dollar bills at the location. The officers arrived and detained the subject. The subject stated that he completed a gardening job in Garden Grove and the individual paid him with the three $50 dollar bills and the rest in $20 dollar bills. As the subject was unaware he possessed the counterfeit bills, the officers seized the three $50 dollar bills and released the subject. The case was referred to the Secret Service for investigation.
Vehicle Burglary
June 1 at 3:02 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 300 block of N. Primrose. The victim had been to a shooting range and left four pistols and a rifle in the trunk of his vehicle. On June 1 at around 3:00 a.m., two suspects were seen unlocking the vehicle with a key fob. The suspects entered the vehicle and removed the firearms by accessing the trunk through the rear seat. The suspects stole the firearms and walked away from the location. The suspects are believed to be a male and female, both suspects were wearing hoodies. The investigation is continuing.
Vehicle Burglary
June 1 at 3:56 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 100 block of Poinsettia. The victim left his vehicle parked in front of his residence on the street overnight. When he returned to his vehicle in the morning, he noticed the contents of the glovebox had been removed. The suspects had also tried to remove the stereo. The investigation is continuing.
Shoplifting / Fraud – Three Suspects Arrested
June 1 at 6:58 p.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington regarding a shoplifting in progress. As the three suspects exited the store, they were detained. After investigation, one female adult was arrested for petty theft and a warrant, one male adult was arrested for petty theft, and the other male adult was arrested for receiving stolen property and unlawful use of anothers personal information.
One of our neighbors in the 170ish area came up to alert me to the fact that we have had several cars broken into the last few nights on the street. Hers was one where they busted down a window to get in.
Additionally she advised at least one home was broken into with "stuff taken" and one home vandalized in the last 2 days.
Its time for a Neighborhood Watch meeting again. I'll contact the new officer in charge to set it up and share with you all the date.
Alert your neighbors to the problem we are having. If you see something, report it to MPD and see me.
Felony Hit and Run Traffic Collision
May 26 at 6:11 p.m., officers responded to the report of a hit and run traffic collision in the 1300 block of S. Magnolia Avenue. The victim’s vehicle was rear-ended by the suspect’s vehicle, which was traveling at a high rate of speed. The suspect then drove off and fled the scene. The victim saw the vehicle and suspect from his rearview mirror and said he could identify the suspect if seen again. He also gave a description of the vehicle. The victim complained of pain and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Several hours later, as the victim was returning home from the hospital, he saw the suspect vehicle. He called police and provided the license plate number. A computer check was run on the license plate to find the registered owner’s address. The vehicle was located at the registered owner’s residence and was stored for investigation. The registered owner was not located. The investigation is continuing. Residential Burglary
May 26 at 9:26 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 200 block of E. Fig Avenue. Three to four male suspects were seen running from the residence. At least one was carrying property. The suspects got into a white, Hyundai sedan and fled the location. A side window was smashed to gain entry and the home was ransacked. A safe containing money and jewelry was taken, along with the video surveillance equipment. The investigation is continuing. Grand Theft
May 27 at 9:52 a.m., a grand theft incident that occurred in the 400 block of Genoa was reported to police. The victim parked her vehicle on the street in front of her residence in the evening. When she returned to her vehicle the next morning, she discovered someone had stolen the catalytic converter off her vehicle. The investigation is continuing. Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
May 28 at 1:19 a.m., officers conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation in the area of Live Oak and Longden. During the traffic stop, it was determined that the driver
had been drinking and was driving under the influence. After investigation, the driver was arrested for driving under the influence and held for a sobering period. Residential Burglary
May 28 at 7:22 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 800 block of S. Canyon Boulevard. The father of the victim went to his daughter's apartment to check on it because she is out of town. When he arrived, he saw a back window had been shattered and the residence was ransacked. Jewelry was taken from the home. The investigation is continuing. Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
May 28 at 8:06 p.m., officers were dispatched to a traffic collision with possible injuries in the area of California and Los Angeles. During the investigation, it was determined that one of the drivers involved was intoxicated. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence and held for a sobering period. Domestic Violence – Suspects Arrested
May 29 at 9:20 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of Grand Avenue on the report of two subjects fighting. They arrived and found a male and female with injuries. Both subjects admitted they had been in a fight. The subjects were found to be boyfriend and girlfriend; both were arrested for domestic violence.
