85 percent of thefts were from cars that were left unlocked
Between Jan. 1 and April 26 of 2016 there were 35 thefts from vehicles in Seal Beach. Of those 35 thefts – 30 (or 85 percent) were from vehicles that had been left unlocked. The Seal Beach Police Department is urging citizens to be vigilant about this growing crime trend and to take the following steps:
• Lock your car.
• Remove valuables.
• Do not leave anything of value in plain view, such as cell phones, computer tablets, or purses.
• Do not leave your keys in your car.
• Put large packages in the trunk.
“Seal Beach is a safe community, but we must not be complacent,” said Chief Joe Stilinovich. “Theft from unlocked vehicles is a crime that is preventable. Please help us fight this crime by locking your car and removing your valuables.” Seal Beach Police goal is four minutes for priority one calls
Police response time is 4 min., 3 sec.
By Charles M. Kelly
Seal Beach Police officers averaged a response time of 4 minutes, 3 seconds to priority one calls during the first quarter of the year, according to Sgt. Michael Henderson.
Concidentally, that was the same response time reported for the first quarter of 2015.
“Regarding our response times, there are a number of different factors and variables that affect response times, including traffic conditions, location of the call and where the officer is responding from,” according to Henderson. “Our goal is to respond to priority one calls as quickly as possible and four minutes is an acceptable timeframe for response.”
Crime Log Compiled by Charles M. Kelly
IN SEAL?BEACH
Thursday, April 28
Transient—7:19 a.m.—Sixth Street and Electric Avenue—A man carrying a blue blanket asked the caller to contact the police. He requested medical assistance. The log did not include information on why he needed assistance. Paramedics were present by 7:39 a.m. Assisted.
Transient—3:47 p.m.—Catalina and Avalon—A man described as a transient was seen carrying bedding up Avalon toward Gum Grove Park. Police unit 107 advised him against camping and he said he would comply.
Vandalism—6:17 p.m.—Central Avenue—Someone smashed the front windshield of a car parked in front of a garage.
The crime apparently occurred 3:30-4 a.m., Wednesday, April 27. The caller heard a sound around that time, but didn’t check his car.
Friday, April 29
Transient—5:52 a.m.—Main Street—The caller said a transient individual was sleeping in the stairwell upstairs. The caller said this was an on-going problem. The transient individual was gone by the time police arrived.
Disturbance—7:17 a.m.—Marina and Pacific Coast Highway—The caller said a man on the bike path was throwing trash from the cans onto the bike path. The caller also said he was throwing rocks near people. He was gone by the time police arrived.
Patrol Check—7:25 a.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller reported a man with a child on the end of the pier with a mint green tent that people had to step over to avoid. The caller said the man was overhead casting his fishing line.
Some details were blacked out in the log. Police unit 107 determined they were a family that was fishing for the first time and visiting Seal Beach for the first time.
Police apparently advised them about the Municipal Code. Assisted.
Welfare Check—7:28 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a man was slumped over on a bus bench. He appeared to be conscious. Some details were blacked out in the log. Police unit 106 interviewed him in the field.
Welfare Check—5:19 p.m.—Fifth Street—The caller said a woman pedestrian was moving in and out of traffic and appeared to be making cars stop for her. Police were unable to locate her.
Brandish weapon—5:47 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—A man drove up to Seal Beach Lifeguards and pointed a gun at them. There were two men in the front of the car and one woman in the back.
More than half the entry was blacked out in the log. No description of the people involved was available. The car was described as an Infinity L30. Report taken.
Dog—6:51 p.m.—Electric Avenue—The caller said a dog had been barking in a rear yard for the past three hours. The caller thought the dog might have been injured. Police unit 207 determined the dog was OK and no further police services were necessary.
Barking Dog—8:05 p.m.—13th Street—The caller reported confronting a neighbor on Electric Avenue about that neighbor’s barking dog and the neighbor became argumentative with the caller. The caller wanted to speak with an officer and have an officer counsel the neighbor.
Saturday, April 30
Suspicious Circumstances—3:49 a.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller said two men were in the alley, checking car door handles. They opened one car, then closed it when the caller turned her light on. The caller did not believe they took anything from the car. Some details were blacked out in the log.
Police unit 207 contacted one individual. Police arrested Troy Lacayo on suspicion of possession of a sap or similar weapon.
Extra Patrol Checks Requested—10:52 a.m.—Jade Cove Way—The caller said a man was sleeping overnight in a car on the street behind the caller’s home. The caller reported confronting the man who told him he sleeps there every night.
According to the caller, the man became argumentative with the caller. The beat unit was advised.
Vandalism—12:10 p.m.—10th Street—The crime apparently occurred between 5 p.m., Friday, April 29, and the time of the call to police. The caller’s plate was damaged and bent. But the call was cancelled before a police unit was dispatched. The caller had to leave.
Petty Theft Report—4:40 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a bike had been stolen from a 12-year-old child 30 minutes earlier. Report taken.
Disturbance, Party—9:39 p.m.—Surf Place—The caller complained about a large party with a live band at an address to the rear of the caller’s location.
By 9:56 p.m., the band was shut down and the party was being brought inside.
Sunday, May 1
Municipal Code Complaint—12:55 p.m.—Sixth Street—The caller complained about loud construction in the alley. The person responsible for the noise was advised to keep it down and that person said they would comply.
Welfare Check—2:37 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller reported a man down in the bushes on the south side of Pacific Coast Highway.
He had a walker next to him. The caller thought he fell.
Police unit S24 contacted the man. He checked out OK and did not want help. He would be moving along. No further police services were necessary.
Bees—4:04 p.m.—Lampson Avenue—The caller reported a swarm of bees at the location. The caller did not know if there was a hive. Police were unable to locate the bees.
Monday, May 2
Dog in Car—11:57 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller said a dog was locked in a car and appeared to be in distress. Police were unable to locate the car.
Suspicious Occupied Vehicle—1:37 p.m.—Marina and First Street—The caller thought three men in a car in the alley between First and Second streets were possibly casing the area before they got into the car. Police unit 141 contacted the men. Some details were blacked out in the log. They were interviewed in the field.
Tuesday, May 3
Pedestrian Check—1:13 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—While on patrol, police unit 207 contacted a pedestrian. On the basis of a bench warrant, Mark Jeffrey Shipe was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.
Traffic Hazard—10:50 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway and Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a chicken was running around in the street. According to the caller, the chicken had a tag. Police were unable to locate the chicken.
Traffic Collision—11:20 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—Two callers reported the traffic collision. Police unit 141 arrested Pattie Ann Pederson on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs.
Animal Welfare Check—2:49 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a small dog was inside a car with the windows rolled up. Message delivered to Long Beach Animal Care Services. As of 2:50 p.m., animal control officers were en route.
Wednesday, May 4
Suspicious Person—1:14 a.m.—Electric Avenue and Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said an elderly man was looking into cars on Seal Beach Boulevard, near Electric Avenue. Police unit 207 contacted a man who was looking into his own car. No further police services were necessary.
Arrest—8:04 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway and Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller reported a man sitting at the end of the street with a glass pipe and lighter. The caller did not know if the pipe was for drugs or tobacco. Some details were blacked out in the log. Based on two outstanding warrants, police unit S19 arrested. Joshua Alan Germain on suspicion of indecent exposure and burglary.
Suspicious Occupied Vehicle—8:15 a.m.—Saturn Way—The caller said a car came in 30 minutes earlier and has been parked in one spot since arriving. Some details were blacked out in the log. Police unit 106 contacted a construction worker waiting for his boss. No further police services were necessary.
