School vending machines burgled

Arcadia Police Department Weekly Activity Report Sept. 11 to Sept. 17:

Calls for Service: 888 / Formal Investigations: 130 Total Year-to-Date for 2011: Calls: 34,049 / Investigations: 4,498

The following is a summary report of the major incidents handled by the Department during this period.

Sunday, Sept. 11: 1.    At about 3:45 a.m., a traffic stop was conducted on Santa Anita Avenue and Colorado Boulevard for a missing headlight and flat tire.  Through investigation, the officer learned that the driver, a 33-year-old male of unknown race, had collided with a pole in the center median and was under the influence.  The male was booked at the Arcadia City Jail for D.U.I. 2.    Officers responded to the 1100 block of West Duarte Road in reference to a male and female arguing inside a parked vehicle.  The two parties were contacted and a records check of the involved 22-year-old White male revealed two outstanding misdemeanor warrants, for which he was arrested.

Monday, September 12: 3.    Arcadia High School, 180 Campus Drive, and Holly Avenue Elementary, 360 West Duarte, reported that sometime over the weekend the campus vending machines were vandalized.  The locking mechanisms were broken and the money inside was stolen. 4.    At approximately 5:21 p.m., officers responded to the Westfield Santa Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin Avenue regarding suspicious circumstances.  The victim told officers that on September 1st, he received a voicemail from a male with a heavy Indian accent who stated he was from Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations and that he had a business/legal matter to discuss with him.  Upon returning the call, the victim spoke with a female subject that identified herself as an attorney, also with a very heavy Indian accent, and told the victim there was an outstanding debt which he needed to pay immediately or legal action would be taken. The victim, believing this was a true debt, purchased a prepaid Visa as instructed and then faxed the card information to the number provided by the female.  The victim believes the incident was fraudulent and possibly from outside the country.

Tuesday, September 13: 5.    Between Monday September 12th at 9:30 p.m., and Tuesday September 13th at 8:15 a.m., a vehicle theft occurred in the 200 block of San Antonio Road.  Suspect(s) stole a 2007, black, GMC Yukon SUV, parked to the front of the location. 6.    At about 4:00 p.m., a victim came to the station to report that a fraud had occurred on September 8th.  An 81-year-old female victim advised that after shopping at Walgreens, 253 East Foothill Boulevard, she was approached by two males described as Hispanic, in their mid twenties, about 5′-07″, 170 lbs., with medium length black hair in the parking lot.   The suspects told her that they were mechanics and would be able to repair the existing collision damage on her vehicle.  The victim agreed and gave the men a check to purchase the materials and later meet her at her residence to fix the car.  The check was cashed later that day and the suspects never arrived at her home.

Wednesday, September 14: 7.    At about 5:30 a.m., officers responded to Arcadia Reclamation Inc., 12321 Lower Azusa Road, regarding damaged property.  Sometime between September 12th at midnight, and September 14th at 2:00 a.m., suspect(s) stole approximately 300 feet of copper wiring from the in-ground traffic signal boxes at the location. 8.    A theft occurred in the parking lot of Ralphs, 16 East Live Oak Avenue, sometime between 8:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.  Suspect(s) stole the front tire of a bicycle that was parked and locked at the location.

Thursday, September 15: 9.    At approximately 9:10 a.m., a 49-year-old Hispanic male, who was soliciting in the area of Tenth Avenue and Derek Drive, was contacted by officers.  A records check of the subject revealed he was a Parolee at large with outstanding warrants.  He was taken into custody and booked for the warrants at the Arcadia City Jail. 10.    Between 9:02 a.m. and 5:35 p.m., a residential burglary occurred in the 700 block of West Fairview Avenue.  Suspect(s) entered the residence through an unlocked front door, ransacked the house and stole jewelry.

Friday, September 16: 11.    Between September 15th at 10:15 p.m., and September 16th at 7:00 a.m., a theft occurred at Baldwin Stocker School, 422 West Lemon Avenue.  Suspect(s) forced open two vending machines and stole the currency inside. 12.    A home in the 200 block of West Magna Vista Avenue was burglarized between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.  Suspect(s) entered the residence through an open sliding door and stole two televisions.

Saturday, September 17: 13.    Shortly after 1:00 p.m., loss prevention personnel from Zumies at the Westfield Santa Anita Mall, 400 South Baldwin Avenue, detained one adult female and one juvenile female for theft.  The suspects entered a fitting room, hid merchandise in their purses and attempted to leave.  The 22-year-old Hispanic female admitted that she brought previously stolen merchandise with her to return for cash.  Both females were arrested, and during a search of the 14-year-old Hispanic female, marijuana and other narcotic paraphernalia were found on her person. Both females were booked at the Arcadia City Jail for commercial burglary and additional charges. 14.    A victim came to the station around 3:00 p.m. to report a theft by false pretenses.  The victim stated that on September 15th she had attempted to purchase a vehicle advertised for sale on Craigslist.  She met the selling party, described as a White male in his early to mid 40’s, heavy set, clean shaven and well-dressed, in the 900 block of West Duarte Road to inspect and purchase the vehicle.  The victim gave the suspect a $500.00 deposit, and has not heard from him since.