Crime Log: Bike thieves peddle into petty theft arrest

Two young bike thieves got caught while riding stolen property in Seal Beach on Wednesday, March 31.

At about 11:32 a.m., a witness saw the two suspects peddling off on someone else’s property—two Beachcruiser bicycles. The witness followed them in the pick-up he was driving—and phoned the police.

The witness described the two suspects as a Hispanic man and a Hispanic woman, both about 28 years old. As it turned out, they were younger than that.

Meanwhile, according to the Crime Log, the victim’s wife told him the thieves had cut the bike chains.

The victim tried to chase the thieves.

The witness left the area, following a failed attempt to detain the suspects.

According to the log, police unit 1S4 detained the suspects on Kitts Highway.

Police had the victim come to Kitts and Pacific Coast Highway for an in-field show up identification.

The bikes were returned to the victim.

According to the log, the suspects were an 18-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man.

They were certainly nowhere near 28 years old, as the witness had thought.

The suspects were cited for petty theft, a misdemeanor, and released.

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Crime Log Assembled by Charles M. Kelly

The crimes listed in the Sun Newspapers were reported to Seal Beach Police Department, Los Alamitos Police Department and Orange County Sheriff Department between March  29 and  April 9, 2010.

Only street names are used; times given are reported times, not incident times.

Crime Log entries are based on preliminary information. Space limitations make it impossible to publish every incident.

Until proven guilty in a court of law, all suspects are considered innocent.

IN SEAL BEACH

Monday, March  29

Suspicious—8:19 a.m.—Electric Avenue and 5th Street—The caller reported seeing a man riding his daughter’s bike, which had been stolen recently.

Police were unable to locate the suspect. The caller said he would call back when his daughter came home.

Tuesday, March 30

Jail Booking—10:21 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—A pay-to-stay inmate was booked into the city jail.

Welfare Check—11:39 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said two boys, approximately 10 years old, were selling candy. The caller said they had been selling every morning for an unspecified period of time. The caller was concerned because they were not in school.

Disturbance, Juveniles—4:39 p.m.—12th Street—Juveniles were playing in the alley and the ball kept hitting the caller’s windows. A neighbor tried to counsel them without success. Police unit 113 advised them to behave and they said they would comply.

Wednesday, March 31

Suspicious Person—1:06 a.m.—5th Street—The caller said a man was looking into vehicles and into the windows of residences. The man was described as Hispanic, tanned, in his mid-30s, wearing a gray hoodie and shorts, carrying a plastic bag. Police unit 121 contacted someone matching that description on 4th Street and Ocean Avenue. The suspect was interviewed in the field.

Vehicle Burglary—2:49 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—Point of entry: a smashed window. Loss: a GPS device valued at $300. Report taken.

Thursday, April 1

Traffic Collision—1:21 a.m.—Lampson Avenue and Basswood Street—As a result of this call, a man was arrested for DUI. Sgt. Steve Bowles, public information officer for the Seal Beach Police Department, confirmed that Erik Fober, 23 was arrested on a charge of violating California Vehicle Code 23152, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Petty Theft—3:50 p.m.—3rd Street—The crime occurred at some time on Wednesday, March 31 or on Thursday, April 1.

Loss: a plaque from the rear of the location. The plaque was valued at $5.

Vandalism Report—11:59 p.m.—Lampson Avenue and Tulip Street—The caller said the caller’s vehicle was just hit by a water balloon.

The caller said the suspects were throwing them from the bushes on the north side of Lampson. The caller said there was damage to the driver’s side of the vehicle.

The log did not describe the extent or nature of the damage. Police unit 121 checked the area for the water ballooners.

Friday, April

Vehicle Burglary—10:37 a.m.—13th Street—There was no damage to the vehicle—the suspect reportedly left the door open. Loss: a zebra print canvas bag containing a pad of script and other items.

Point of entry: unknown. Report taken.

Vehicle Burglary—3:34 p.m.—Beverly Manor Road—Point of entry: a smashed side window. Loss: a purse containing an unknown amount of cash and credit cards.

The caller phoned police on behalf of the victim, who was contacting her credit card company at the time of the call to police.

Disturbance, Juveniles—5:41 p.m.—Lampson Avenue—The caller saw three male juveniles climbing over a fence.

They took a flag pin from the putting green. Disposition: no damage to property. No report desired.

Saturday, April 3

Vehicle Burglary—9:45 a.m.—Dogwood Avenue—Loss: a briefcase and a laptop, collectively valued at $2,000.

Animal Information—7:09 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller said a baby seal had been present for four or five minutes. Referred to Long Beach Animal Care Services.

Sunday, April

Traffic Collision—4:15 p.m.—Rossmoor Center Way and Seal Beach Boulevard—Paramedics were present by mere chance when the collision occurred. No one was hurt. According to the caller, her accelerator stuck and the brakes would not work. According to the caller, her vehicle was a Toyota. Report taken.

IN LEISURE WORLD

Wednesday, March 31

Public Works Information—4:01 a.m.—Del Monte Drive and Golden Rain Road—The caller reported water bubbling up from the ground, possibly as a result of a water main break. Message delivered to Seal Beach Public Works Department.

Thursday, April 1

Disturbance—7:08 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—A woman refused to leave the security office at the Leisure World main gate. She demanded that the people there get her a taxi so she could go home. Police unit 1212 responded.

It turned out she was wanted on a bench warrant.

She was arrested.

IN LOS ALAMITOS

Monday, April 5

Suspicious Occupied Vehicle—6:35 a.m.—Enterprise Drive and Katella Avenue—A man was sitting outside a truck with his zipper down. Officers spoke to the man, who was working construction and waiting for someone to pick him up.

Tuesday, April 6

Disturbance, Noise—3:03 a.m.—Oak Street—People were playing poker in the garage of a residence and being too loud. Officers spoke with the group who said they would quiet down.

Wednesday, April 7

Missing Adult—9:13 p.m.—Walnut Street—A man left his residence almost four hours earlier and had not returned. He was wheelchair bound and in need of medication.

He was located by family members in Long Beach.

Thursday, April 8

Possible DUI—11:45 p.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard and Rossmoor Way—The caller said someone nearly caused an accident and thought the driver might be intoxicated. Officers found the vehicle. It turned out the driver was sober. However, he was having difficulty driving due to injuries. Officers assisted in getting him home safely.

Friday, April 9

Suspicious Person—5:25 p.m.—Denwood Avenue—According to the caller, a man who might be trying to sell something was walking door to door in the neighborhood. The caller’s cause for concern: he was talking to himself. Officers found the man, who said he would leave the area.

Saturday, April 10

Disturbance, Family—4:43 p.m.—Green Avenue—A woman said her ex-boyfriend was preventing her from leaving a residence.

Officers spoke with the pair and the man left the area.

Sunday, April 11

Counseling—8:17 p.m.—Paseo Bonita—A man heard a loud noise and went outside to find his house had been egged. He was counseled.

IN ROSSMOOR

Monday, April 5

Petty Theft—1:45 a.m.—Weatherby Road—Items were stolen from two vehicles. Report taken.

Keep the Peace—2:53 p.m.—Wallingsford Road—The manager of a condo complex had an argument with a former tenant.

Tuesday, April 6

Suspicious Person or Circumstances—10:38 a.m.—Channing Way and Kensington Road—An individual was selling door to door. Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputies stopped the individual. They warned the peddler about selling without a permit. The peddler left the area.

Wednesday, April 7

Burglary Report—7:24 a.m.—Donovan Road—This was a vehicle burglary. Report taken.

Thursday, April 8

Suspicious Person or Circumstances—4:50 p.m.—Druid Lane and Silver Fox Road—An individual was reported on foot in the area.

Disturbance, Music or Party—11:35 p.m.—Foster Road—The Sheriff’s Department received a report of a juvenile party. Deputies contacted the juveniles and shut the party down.

IN SUNSET BEACH

Monday, April 5

Welfare Check—12:49 p.m.—24th Street—Blood was found at the neighbor’s house. A deputy investigated and found nothing suspicious.

Tuesday, April 6

Disturbance, Mechanical—7:14 a.m.—N. Pacific Avenue and 24th Street—The informant reported a tractor idling in a vacant lot nearby. There was no report.

Brian Smith of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.