A man was arrested for business burglary at the Seal Beach Target store on Friday, Nov. 16.
Police first received word that the suspect was stealing memory cards from the store at about 7:30 p.m.
The caller phoned police from the store office as the caller watched the suspect on the store’s surveillance cameras.
The caller told police the store had video of multiple times that week that the suspect had engaged in petty thefts from the store.
Neither the caller nor the log mentioned it, but as a matter of California law if you enter a business with the intention of stealing something, the crime is considered a business burglary—a felony.
That applies even when the value of the property stolen would normally make the crime one of petty theft—a misdemeanor.
The manager stepped outside the store to talk to police officers.
The following is the caller’s account to police as recorded in the log:
At 7:40 p.m., the suspect was talking to a Target employee in the electronics department.
A minute later, the suspect was walking toward the front of the store.
The suspect held merchandise in his hand and it looked like he was going to make a purchase.
At 7:42 p.m., the suspect went into the restroom.
At 7:47 p.m., the suspect left the restroom and walked toward the exit. Then he went into the eating area, where he went through the door and into the parking lot.
Police unit 207 took him into custody.
He was booked for burglary.
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Crime Log Compiled by Charles M. Kelly
IN SEAL?BEACH
Tuesday, November 13
Petty Theft Bike—9 a.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller reported the theft of a bicycle from an unlocked garage. The bike was a man’s gray Schwinn 10-speed. The call was canceled because the caller had to leave for work.
Counseling—10:12 a.m.—Monterey Road—A citizen said someone from Jamaica had been calling the citizen’s elderly mother in an attempt to get money.
The Jamaican caller was becoming extremely aggressive and threatening. The mother’s phone number was being changed that night. Counseled.
Forgery—11:15 a.m.—Hazelnut Avenue—Someone used the caller’s information to write checks. Loss: $270.30. The crime apparently occurred on Nov. 3.
Grand Theft—11:19 a.m.—Oleander Street—The caller said someone stole jewelry valued at approximately $7,000 from the caller’s unlocked car on Oct. 27.
Wednesday, November 14
Burglary Report—9:12 a.m.—Fir Avenue—Someone broke into the caller’s garage and took a piece of scuba equipment.The crime apparently occurred between 11 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 13, and 8 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 14.
Found Property—9:50 a.m.—Hazelnut Avenue—The caller found two handguns under the heating unit in his garage. He did not know if the guns were loaded.
He said he had lived there 40 years and did not know who the guns belonged to. Weapons taken for destruction. Report taken.
Fake Money—10:17 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a man asked her for change for a $20 bill, which she said was fake.
She gave him back the bill and got her money back, but the man was still in the area trying to scam people. Police unit 106 arrested a suspect.
Suspicious Person—1:11 p.m.—Catalina Avenue—The caller said a man with a clip board kept going into the backyard of a house. The homeowners were not home. Police unit 107 arrived and so did the homeowner. The man with a clipboard turned out to be a contractor. No further police services were necessary.
Burglary Report—5:03 p.m.—1st Street—The caller found an apartment broken into. Loss: unknown at that time. Point of entry: unknown. The crime apparently occurred between noon and 5 p.m. that day.
Thursday, November 15
Traffic Hazard—11:13 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said an elderly woman was walking her bike in the southbound emergency lane on the overpass.
Bite Report—12:01 a.m.—14th Street—The caller reported a bite by an unspecified animal on Nov. 10. Report taken.
Property for Destruction—3:57 p.m.—Coastline Drive—The caller requested a police unit to pick up military ammunition for destruction. Log entry.
Welfare Check—6:59 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller saw a man hanging half out of a vehicle located somewhere in the parking lot.
Malicious Mischief—10:06 p.m.—11th Street—The windshield of the caller’s car was reportedly broken by someone playing ball at the field.
However, no one at the location was willing to admit it. The caller thought the suspects might still be present. Police unit 207 counseled the caller. Log number given.
Friday, November 16
Possible Petty Theft—00:00 a.m.—7th Street—The caller said his wife saw a man take a pink girl’s bike from under a stairway at the apartments across the alley. The caller did not know if a theft had occurred. Log entry.
Suspicious Circumstances—7:07 p.m.—Stanford Lane—Someone tried to open the caller’s front door. The door was locked. The suspect then rang the doorbell. When the caller opened the door and looked outside, no one was around. The caller requested contact with the police. Unit 206 counselled the caller.
Saturday, November 17
Petty Theft—7:45 a.m.—Birchwood Avenue—Someone took loose change from inside the caller’s unlocked car. No report desired. The caller only requested that the theft be documented. Log entry.
Fake Money—8:22 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller said a customer tried to pay a bill with two fake $10 bills. Report taken.
Suspicious Circumstances—9:25 p.m.—6th Street—The caller heard a chainsaw going off inside the residence. The caller didn’t hear or see anything else that was suspicious. The caller was concerned because the noise seemed to be coming from inside the house.
The caller was on foot in the area and had heard the noise for the past two or three minutes. Police unit 207 contacted the resident of another 6th Street address who was using a weed whacker.
Attempted Burglary Report—10:01 p.m.—8th Street—The caller arrived home and found that the screen to her bedroom window had been removed and the blinds inside the room had been moved.
The caller’s hidden key was missing.
The caller didn’t think anyone actually gained entrance. Nothing was missing. Report taken
Sunday, November 18
Suspicious Circumstances—7 p.m.—Coastline Drive—The caller said a woman tried, but failed, to open the caller’s front door. The caller thought the woman was drunk. She reportedly thought the location was a church.
However, the caller did not believe she was looking for a church.
IN ROSSMOOR
Monday, November 19
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—12:52 p.m.—Ballantine Drive.
Tuesday, November 20
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—8:32 a.m.—Walker Lee Drive.
Disturbance—9:26 a.m.—Montecito Road.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—10:48 p.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard and Katella Avenue.
Disturbance, Music or Party—11:07 p.m.—Walker Lee Drive.
Wednesday, November 21
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—9:37 p.m.—St. Albans Drive and Silver Fox Road.
Disturbance—5:38 p.m.—Aceca Drive.
Burglary in Progress—3:24 p.m.—Newbury Road— The log did not say if this was a residential or automobile burglary.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—9:18 a.m.—Inverness Drive.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—9:15 a.m.—Wendy Way and Old Mill Road.
Disturbance—1:18 a.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard.
Municipal Code Violations—12:09 a.m.—Hedwig Road and Pemberton Road.
Thursday, November 22
Prowler—3:09 a.m.—Tigertail Drive.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—7:08 a.m.—Quail Run Road.
Vandalism Report—9:44 a.m.—Copa De Oro Drive.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—8:25 p.m.—Silverwood Drive.
Open Door—9:41 p.m.—Tigertail Drive.
Friday, November 23
Identity Theft—9:47 a.m.—Harrisburg Road.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—6:18 p.m.—Yellowtail Drive.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—8:20 p.m.—Silver Fox Road.
Disturbance—8:40 p.m.—Montecito Road.
Saturday, November 24
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—10:10 a.m.—Yellowtail Drive.
Burglary Report—7:53 p.m.—Drysdale Lane—The log did not say if this was a residential or automobile burglary.
Disturbance, Music or Party—11:03 p.m.—Mainway Drive.
Sunday, November 25
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—2:02 a.m.—Blume Drive.
