The following is a synopsis of crimes reported for the week of December 3, 2023 – December 9, 2023.
December 3, 2023
December 4, 2023
1700 Fasana Road (Esperanza). Between December 3, 2023 at 9 AM and December 4, 2023 7 AM, the victim stated he had a party at his house with approximately 8-10 friends. He stated suspect(s) unknown stole his jewelry that he had in his unlocked bedroom. The loss was approximately $8,000. No surveillance video is available.
- Petty Theft (Shoplifting):
1470 Mountain Avenue (Best Buy). On December 4, 2023 at 7:28 PM, the suspect unknown, a male black adult in his 20’s wearing a gray hoodie and black jeans, entered the location, looked around for approximately 20 minutes, before grabbing a laptop and concealing it in his tan tote bag. The suspect exited the location without attempting to purchase the item and left out of view. The loss was approximately $700. Surveillance video is available.
- Petty Theft (Shoplifting):
1322 Huntington Drive (Grocery Outlet). On December 4, 2023 at 9 PM, suspect unknown a male black adult in his 60’s wearing a grey and white shirt, gray pants and a grey hat, grabbed a case of water and two crates of firewood from the front of the location and placed them inside his vehicle, a 2008 Nissan truck with a license plate of 91594P3, without attempting to purchase the items. The loss was approximately $20. Surveillance video is available.
December 5, 2023
- Petty Theft (Shoplifting):
1322 Huntington Drive (Grocery Outlet). On December 5, 2023 at 9 PM, suspects unknown, three adult men possibly of middle eastern decent speaking possibly “Farsi”, entered the location and began loading two shopping carts full of groceries. The suspects exited the location without attempting to purchase any of the items. The manager was able to grab a shopping cart from one of the suspects, while the other two suspects began to unload the other shopping cart of groceries into a red Kia van. The manager attempted to record the vehicle license plate, but one of the suspects removed his shirt and covered it. The suspects fled the area. The loss was approximately $770. Surveillance video is available.
December 6, 2023
2171 Huntington Drive (Tacos Ensenada). On December 6, 2023 at 3 AM, suspect(s) unknown shattered the windows of the front doors and entered the location. Suspect(s) ransacked the location and stole a money bag containing U.S currency. The loss was approximately $1,500. A possible surveillance video is available.
1217 Buena Vista Street (Loyal Dentistry). On December 6, 2023 between 12 AM and 12 PM, suspect(s) unknown shattered the side window and entered the location. Suspect(s) ransacked the location and stole the CPU’s to the computers. The loss was approximately $1,000. A possible surveillance video is available.
1300 Block of Elmhurst Avenue. Between December 5, 2023 5 PM and December 6, 2023 7 AM, suspect(s) unknown stole the victim's parked vehicle, a red 2013 Hyundai Sonata. No surveillance video is available.
2600 Block of Maynard Drive. On December 6, 2023 between 2 AM and 6 AM, suspect(s) unknown stole the victim's parked vehicle, a black 2011 Kia Sportage. No surveillance video is available.
December 7, 2023
2705 Huntington Drive (7-11). On December 7, 2023 at 4:30 PM, the victim and the suspect, a male hispanic adult 5’ 08”, 150 Lbs., wearing a brown straw hat and a dark shirt, were at the location involved in a verbal argument. The suspect produced a possible walking stick or cane and struck the victim in the head causing a laceration to his ear and redness to his jaw. The suspect fled the area and was last seen on Calle Martos. Per the victim, the suspect lives in the riverbed area. A possible surveillance video is available.
1327 Huntington Drive (99 Cents only Store). On December 7, 2023 between 12 PM and 1 PM, suspect(s) unknown shattered the rear driver side window to the victim’s vehicle, a 2009 Hyundai Sonata, that was parked at the location. The suspect(s) entered his vehicle and stole his Swiss backpack containing diamonds that he left visible on the rear driver side seat. The loss was approximately $5,000. No surveillance video is available.
December 8, 2023
- Petty Theft (Shoplifting):
2315 Huntington Drive (CVS). On December 8, 2023 at 1:15 PM, suspects unknown, two female black adults approximately 25 years old 5’ 03” – 5’ 05” tall, 120 lbs., one wearing a tan shirt and pants and the other wearing a black shirt, and blue jeans, entered the location, went directly to the feminine products area, and began to place “CeraVe” products into their personal bags. An employee questioned the suspects regarding if they planned on paying for the items due to multiple thefts by suspects matching the description. The suspects said “no” and fled the location without attempting to purchase the items. The suspects entered a silver Nissan Sentra with a license plate of 8WYH491 and were last seen headed towards Mount Olive Drive. The loss was approximately $400. Surveillance video is available.
902 Mountain Avenue (Arco). On December 8, 2023 at 8:40 PM, suspect unknown, a female white adult, stole the victim’s “Calvin Klein” purse containing her phone from the front passenger seat while she was at the location pumping gas into her vehicle. The unknown suspect fled the area in a black SUV. The loss was approximately $270. A possible surveillance video is available.
December 9, 2023
819 Buena Vista Street (St. Joseph Chapel). On December 9, 2023 at 1:15 PM, suspect unknown, a possible female hispanic adult, stole the victim’s purse containing her phone from a kneeling pad that she left unattended while she prayed. The loss was approximately $400. No surveillance video is available.
Cotter Avenue and Evergreen Street. On December 9, 2023 at 2:20 PM, the victim and his friend were walking on Evergreen Street, when a gray Dodge Ram pulled up on them and two male Hispanic adult suspects and one male juvenile subject approached them and identified themselves as “Eastside Duarte” gang members and asked them where they were from and if they “banged”. The three male suspects approached the victim and pulled his backpack from him and demanded his phone, belt, and hat. Fearing for his safety he complied. The three suspects entered the vehicle, that was also occupied by an unknown female. The suspects drove west on Evergreen Street and out of view. The loss was approximately $2,000. A possible surveillance video is available.
CRIME PREVENTION TIPS - FRAUD ALERT
GIFT CARD SCAM
Scammers are cutting off security codes from gift cards at local stores before they're purchased, allowing the scammer to use whatever amount of money is put on them.
The scammers cut off the top that gives you the code that gives you access to your money for the person that you give the card to.
The scammer then places what’s left of the card, which is now worthless, back in the envelope, seals it, and puts it back on the store rack, where the innocent consumer purchases the card and loads money on to it.
It is recommended if you are buying a gift card, either feel for the entire card, it should be the same size as a credit card, or with the permission of the store, when you go up to purchase these, as you’re purchasing them, remove them from these folders and actually take the card and make sure that the whole card is there.
