A man found an abandoned bike on Ocean Avenue on the South Side of the Seal Beach Pier on Wednesday, Sept. 26. He apparently believed in the old adage, “finders keepers.”
It turns out that isn’t true.
He called the Seal Beach Police Department and let them know he wanted to take the bike as his own.
However, the dispatcher said he could not take the bike.
The caller then asked for an officer to be sent to the scene to take his contact information so he could claim the bike if the owner did not claim it.
Someone in the area reportedly told the caller that the bike had been there for at least two hours.
The caller apparently left the area before meeting with a Seal Beach Police officer.
A patrol officer planned to return later that night to see if the bike’s owner came to reclaim the bicycle.
The log did not say if the rightful owner ever showed up.
Marine Safety: Sewer spill closes San Gabriel River
The area near San Gabriel River was closed to 500 feet east, according to Seal Beach Marine Safety (Lifeguard) Chief Joe Bailey’s weekly report to the city manager.
“This closure was a precaution as 1,100 gallons of raw sewage was spilled into Cerritos channel in Long Beach,” Bailey said. “The power plant uses water from the Cerritos channel to cool the turbines and returns the water to the San Gabriel River. The Health Department ordered a closure and the Lifeguard Department enforced the swimming ban. Once two consecutive water tests showed no contamination the area was opened on Wednesday October 3rd.”
During the week of Sept. 28 to October 4, Lifeguards performed seven rescues, two boat rescues, responded to eight medical aid calls (of which one was considered major) and treated nine stingray injuries.
Crime Log Compiled
by Charles M. Kelly
IN SEAL?BEACH
Monday, September 24
Burglary Report—11:16 a.m.—13th Street—The crime apparently occurred between 9 a.m. and noon, Sunday, Sept. 23.
The log did not say what if anything was lost.
Point of entry: a window. Report taken.
Municipal Code—7:11 p.m.—Marina Drive—The caller said a man and a woman were taking items out of the trash bin behind the complex.
Tuesday, September 25
Vehicle Complaint—7:28 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller said a semi-truck was squeaking its breaks and blowing exhaust into the caller’s residence.
The caller believed the truck was parked illegally.
However, at 7:32 a.m., a police unit found the vehicle was legally parked.
According to the log, as of 736 a.m., the driver was going to move the vehicle.
No further police services were necessary.
Grand Theft—11:01 a.m.—10th Street—Someone stole a diamond stud earring from the caller’s night stand around midnight on Sept. 15.
The earring was valued at $1,200.
Identity Theft—12:52 p.m.—Fir Avenue—A citizen said that sometime during the previous week, someone attempted to open an account in the citizen’s name.
The attempt was not successful.
Petty Theft Report—3:13 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller left her purse at the location and now the purse was gone.
Police unit 107 helped her to go home for her car key.
Disturbance, Noise—10:16 p.m.—12th Street—The caller said individuals on a balcony were being loud and barbecuing. The caller said this was an ongoing problem.
Patrol Check—11:04 p.m.—Beryl Cove Way—The caller said all the street lights were out.
The caller said she heard a loud noise and then the lights went dark.
Police unit 107, however, reported that only one street light was dark.
All the other lights were OK. No wires were down.
No further police services were necessary.
Wednesday, September 26
Suspicious Person—10:50 a.m.—10th Street—The caller said a man dressed all in black was sitting on a bench behind the location, loitering and yelling.
The caller said the man might be drunk.
Police unit 106 found a man waiting for a bus.
Disturbance—5:52 p.m.—Lampson Avenue—The caller said a man who the caller described as a transient was loitering in front of the business.
The individual became disruptive and threatened the staff when they asked him to leave.
The caller did not believe he had any weapons.
The caller did not know if the man was drunk or mentally ill.
Police unit 206 contacted a man fitting the suspect’s description on Lampson Avenue near the Seal Beach Tennis Center. He was interviewed in the field.
Welfare Check—7:17 p.m.—Avalon Drive—The caller said a dog came out of the park unaccompanied by the owner. The caller thought that the dog owner might still be in the park and possibly having some sort of medical emergency. Police unit 207 found the dog’s owners and they were fine. No further police services were necessary.
Thursday, September 27
Municipal Code—6:38 p.m.—College Park Drive—The caller said two men were fishing off the bridge at the entrance of College Park West. Police unit 241 checked both men.
They were licensed to fish and warned against fishing off the bridge.
Friday, September 28
Burglary Report—9:09 a.m.—Church Place—The caller, relaying second-hand information, said the burglary occurred sometime on Thursday, Sept. 27.
Loss: $100 cash, two cash boxes and two keys. Report taken.
Animal Cruelty—3:33 p.m.—Central Avenue—Patrol unit 440 found a dead pigeon nailed to a telephone pole.
Referred to Long Beach Animal Care Services.
Extra Patrol Checks Requested—6:14 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a man in the parking lot was asking customers for money after attempting to clean their vehicles.
Extra Patrol Checks Requested—11:17 a.m.—Spinnaker Way—The caller requested extra patrols on Friday and Saturday nights from 2 to 3 a.m. The caller said people were parking their cars on 1st Street to avoid paying for bar parking and then they would cross into Seal Beach on foot.
When they returned, they were very loud.
Beat units 207 and 241 were advised.
Trespassing—11:48 p.m.—Seal Way—A man was arrested for sleeping under a resident’s carport.
Saturday, September 29
Illegal Peddler—11:56 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a man in his late teens or mid-20s was selling magazines.
Police unit 107 advised the peddler to discontinue peddling.
Welfare Check—2:15 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said an 8- or 9-year-old boy was selling candy without the supervision of a parent.
Then the caller said there was an adult with the child after all and the caller felt this was suspicious.
Police unit M6 determined that the boy was under adult supervision and that they were from a church.
No further police services were necessary.
Fireworks—4:42 p.m.—Avalon Drive—Callers said approximately five juveniles on bikes were at the bottom of the entrance, setting off fireworks.
Fraud Report—9:24 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The crime apparently occurred on Tuesday, Sept. 25.
Loss: $200 through fraudulent traveler’s checks. Report taken.
Sunday, September 30
Tree Branch—10:30 a.m.—Tulip and Ironwood—The caller reported a large tree limb in the street at the corner.
The caller pulled the limb out of traffic.
Referred to Public Works.
Foot Patrol—12:59 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway and San Gabriel River—A patrol officer checked a camp site towards the back of the fishing hole.
Vehicle Burglary—4:19 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—Someone took the third row of seats from a vehicle.
Point of entry: unknown. The car was locked.
The crime reportedly occurred between 4 p.m. and the time of the call to police.
Theft from a Vehicle—6:57 p.m.—Regatta Way—The crime apparently took place between 5 and 6:55 p.m.
Point of entry: an unlocked vehicle. Loss: the caller’s bicycle, tennis bags, wallet and checkbook.
IN Leisure World
Thursday, September 27
Counseling—2:44 p.m.—Golden Rain Road, Mutual Unknown—A Leisure World resident lost $499 through an Internet scam.
IN LOS?ALAMITOS
Friday, September 28
Suspicious Vehicle–9:05 a.m.–Humbolt and Cerritos—The caller said a man in a blue Mustang was seen driving through the neighborhood and stopping every so often and writing things down.
The vehicle was last seen pulling onto Humbolt.
Patrol checked out the vehicle and verified that the driver was delivering newspapers and checked out OK.
Saturday, September 29
Illegal Peddler–4:40 p.m.–Los Alamitos Boulevard–The caller said that individuals in a white Ford pickup with Nevada plates were begging for money.
The men were approaching older women in the parking lot.
The caller said there were five men and one woman.
Patrol was unable to locate the suspects.
Monday, October 1
Suspicious Person–9:19 a.m.–Ranger Drive–The caller reported that her neighbor was in her side yard.
The caller did not want the man to know that she called on him, but wanted him removed from her property.
The man was doing yard work and was advised to stay off the neighboring property.
Wednesday, October 3
Suspicious Occupied Vehicle–8:51 p.m.–Los Alamitos Boulevard–A citizen came in to report secondhand information about a suspicious vehicle parked in front of an ATM. A man was inside the vehicle with an iPod, ducking down in the vehicle. The citizen thought he was taking pictures of people using the ATM. Patrol was unable to locate the vehicle.
IN ROSSMOOR
Monday, October 1
Patrol Check—10:30 a.m.—Kempton Drive.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—5:24 p.m.—Brimhall Drive—The caller said there was a car in the area where, according to the caller, it is common for individuals to do drugs.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—8:19 p.m.—Hillrose Drive.
Unknown Trouble—8:54 p.m.—Shakespeare Drive and Martha Ann Drive.
Tuesday, October 2
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—4:25 a.m.—Kensington Road—The caller requested a patrol check for two men in a van who said they were with Time Warner working on the cables.
The caller thought this was suspicious because of the time of day.
Shots Heard—6:18 a.m.—Martha Ann Drive—The caller reportedly heard two gunshots.
Petty Theft—11:45 a.m.—Inverness Drive—A construction worker was on a ladder when two men in a white vehicle pulled up. They stole a compressor and nail gun.
Petty Theft Report—12:41 p.m.—Tucker Lane.
Vandalism Report—5:04 p.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard.
Burglary Alarm, Audible—10:51 p.m.—Kensington Road—The caller said the Hopkinson Elementary School’s alarm had been going off for the last few minutes.
The caller saw the custodian’s truck, but not the custodian.
Wednesday, October 3
Citizen Assist—10:54 a.m.—Cortese Drive—A citizen wanted to speak with a deputy about a possible attempt to burglarize the caller’s home.
Petty Theft Report—2:58 p.m.—Tucker Lane.
Burglary Report—4:32 p.m.—Wendy Way—The log did not say if this was a residential or vehicle burglary.
Fraud Report—4:54 p.m.—Davenport Road.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—6:37 p.m.—Orlando Road—The caller said one of two men dressed as ADT workers went into a neighbor’s back yard.
The other suspect reportedly stayed at the front door while the other walked around back.
The caller was concerned because of recent distraction burglaries in the area.
Citizen Assist—6:58 p.m.—Rossmoor Way—A citizen wanted to speak with a deputy about an e-mail threat.
Thursday, October 4
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—11:17 a.m.—Oak Knoll Drive—A house sitter said the rear door of the location was now open but was closed last night.
The house sitter did not know if anyone was inside the residence.
Disturbance, Family Dispute—1:19 p.m.—Brimhall Drive.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—2:54 p.m.—Kensington Road and Gertrude Drive—An arrest was made as a result of this call.
The suspect is in custody in the Orange County Jail with bail set at $20,000.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department website did not say what charge the suspect was booked on.
Friday, October 5
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—7:20 a.m.—Walker Lee Drive—A citizen reported their computer hacked and an attempted fraud.
Open Door—11:50 a.m.—Montecito Road.
Identity Theft—11:44 a.m.—Martha Ann Drive.
Welfare Check—2:18 p.m.—St. Albans Drive.
911 Hang-up—6:27 p.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard.
Saturday, October 6
Disturbance—8:16 a.m.—Mainway Drive.
Patrol Check—10:24 a.m.—Martha Ann Drive.Read—The caller, relaying second-hand information, requested a patrol check at a house for sewage and or flooding coming from the house. The residents were evicted and the caller thought vandalism might be taking place at the property.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—8:05 p.m.—Hedwig Road and Pemberton Road—The caller saw a man in the park with a flashlight and thought it was suspicious. He was by the children’s playground and basketball courts.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—11:31 p.m.—Blume Drive—The caller has had problems with juveniles who go to school with her daughter and the caller was concerned they might be back to do something to her home.
Sunday, October 7
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—12:01 a.m.—Montecito Road and Bradbury Road
Ted Apodaca of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
