The Seal Beach Police Department is working with an Old Town business to discourage theft from cars—and to encourage car owners to lock their vehicles.
As the Sun reported in May, between Jan. 1 and April 26 of this year there have been 35 thefts from cars in town. Of those 35 thefts, 30 (or 85 percent) were from cars that had been left unlocked.
“Seal Beach is a safe community, but we must not be complacent. Theft from unlocked vehicles is a crime that is preventable. Please help us fight this crime by locking your car and removing your valuables,” said Police Chief Joe Stilinovich.
Thefts from cars have historically been a problem in Seal Beach, where it is comparatively common for individuals to leave cars unlocked with property inside.
Specific numbers were not available for thefts from cars 2015, but a look at the California Attorney General’s office data on theft from cars in Seal Beach from 2005-2015 showed a low of 105 thefts in 2013 and a high of 168 thefts from cars in 2003. The 10-year average worked out to 129 car thefts.
The Attorney General’s Office did not provide information on how many of those cars were locked.
In February, the Sun reported that 65 percent of last year’s thefts from cars were from cars that owners left unlocked.
To assist residents with preventing theft, the Police Department has partnered with Bay Hardware. The store will offer a 10 percent discount at the time of purchase, on all motion detector lighting for Seal Beach residents. Simply show your California Identification Card or California Driver’s License that has your Seal Beach address to qualify.
The 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
Crime Log Compiled by Charles M. Kelly
IN SEAL?BEACH
Wednesday, May 25
Transient Camp—6:51 a.m.—Bradbury and Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said two transients had set up tents against a wall on the east side of Seal Beach Boulevard between Bradbury and Rossmoor Way. Police unit 106 contacted one individual north of Bradbury and interviewed that individual in the field. His name was blacked out in the log.
Disturbance—7:31 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a woman sitting in front of the business was talking to herself. The woman had been at the location since 5:30 a.m. Now she was being verbally abusive toward the employees. Police unit 106 contacted the woman. Her name was blacked out in the log. She was warned against trespassing and she left the area.
Petty Theft Report—9:09 a.m.—Fourth Street—Someone stole a Trump sign from the caller’s yard, then burned it on the sidewalk a couple of doors down from his home. The crime apparently occurred at 4:47 a.m. Report taken.
Transient—9:42 a.m.—College Park Drive—The caller reported a transient loitering in the area. At 9:51 a.m., a second caller reported a transient in the area of Harvard and Dartmouth. It was unknown if the second caller was reporting the same transient or another one. Police were unable to locate anyone.
Municipal Code Complaint—2:03 p.m.—Avalon Drive—The caller said a woman had a pit bull off leash. The woman had a 10 year old child with her. The log did not specify if the child was a boy or a girl. The caller reportedly told the woman about the city’s leash law and the woman reportedly said she did not care. Police were unable to locate the woman.
Transient—5:56 p.m.—10th Street—The caller said a transient man was setting up a camp outside the door. The caller was concerned because they were having an event that night. The transient man was gone by the time a police unit arrived.
Petty Theft Report—9 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller reported that someone stole baby formula a couple of hours prior to the call to the police. Report taken.
Suspicious Circumstances—9:24 p.m.—11th Street—The caller reported seeing at least one man with a flashlight inside a house that was under construction. The caller could hear the footsteps through out the house. The caller did not know if there was more than one person in the house. Police unit 207 contacted one man. Some details were blacked out in the log. The man in the house turned out to be a contractor. He left.
Thursday, May 26
Arrest—1:55 a.m.—Westminster Avenue—Police unit 207 while on duty observed a car with a rear plate that was different from the front. The car was occupied by two men. At 2:07 a.m., it was confirmed that the car had been reported stolen. Some details were blacked out in the log. Police arrested Miguel Gonzalo Jiminez Jr. on suspicion of receiving stolen goods and Giovanni Joel Castillo on suspicion of receiving stolen goods. Arrested.
Citizen Assist—3:11 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller dropped her keys in the storm drain in front of the location. Public Works was called to see if they could help. Public Works and police unit 107 responded. The keys were apparently recovered. Assisted.
Disturbance—5:58 p.m.—Main Street—The caller said a woman refused to leave. Her credit card was declined and she was being argumentative. At 6:06 p.m., police unit 241 determined that she had gone to another location. She was seen going southbound on Main, asking people for rides and appeared disoriented. Some details were blacked out in the log. Police took an apparently drunk woman home. No further police services were necessary.
Skateboarders—6:23 p.m.—Bolsa Avenue—The caller said individuals were skateboarding on the steps at the front of the school on Bolsa and were refusing to leave. Police unit 241 contacted five to six juveniles and advised them to discontinue their behavior. They were moving as of 6:33 p.m.
Disturbance, Fight—6:41 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller said four individuals were fighting. One reportedly had a knife. As of 6:43 p.m., the individual with a knife was leaving on a bicycle. Police contacted both the caller and the apparent victim of an assault. The victim apparently did not desire to prosecute. Some details were blacked out in the log. Report taken.
Friday, May 27
Counseling—2:07 p.m.—Golden Rain Road—A citizen reported that Wells Fargo contacted her about two checks that were returned for insufficient funds. She did not know anything about the checks and suspected possible fraud. Police counseled her about this being a civil case, not a police case.
Petty Theft Report—3:03 p.m.—Lampson Avenue—The caller’s wallet was stolen Thursday, May 26, from the location on Lampson Avenue. No suspect information. She was advised that an officer would be calling her to take a phone report. Log entry.
Possible Drug Activity—3:45 p.m.—Second Street and Ocean Avenue—The caller said three juveniles, boys, were smoking marijuana to the rear of the houses. They were gone by the time a police unit arrived.
Lost Dog—6:02 a.m.—Fourth Street—The caller said a small dog slipped out of her collar and got away from the caller. Referred to Long Beach Animal Care Services. Log entry.
Suspicious Property—9:28 p.m.—Lampson Avenue—The caller at the range near the gate found a suspicious substance, possibly drugs. However, it turned out that the suspicious property was just a cigar cutter with tobacco residue on it.
Indecent Exposure Reported—11:26 p.m.—Main Street—The caller said a man was exposing himself to passersby. Some details were blacked out in the log, but police unit 241 determined that the indecent exposure report was unfounded. The man in question simply had a large hole in his pants. Assisted.
Disturbance—11:58 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller complained about loud individuals playing football in the parking lot. Police unit 206 apparently advised them to discontinue and they apparently said they would comply.
Saturday, May 28
Possible Drug Activity—12:01 a.m.—First Street and Marina—The caller just passed the tennis courts and saw some individuals smoking marijuana outside a car. The caller said they were getting ready to leave. There were three young women in their late teens or 20s in the car. At 12:02 a.m., they were leaving. Police were unable to locate them.
Transient—12:40 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller said a homeless person was harassing an employee. Police unit 207 advised the individual against continuing that sort of behavior. The transient apparently promised to comply.
Welfare Check—5:52 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller requested a check on the welfare of a man wrapped up in a blanket in front of a location in the parking lot. The caller could only see his feet and was concerned. Some details were blacked out in the log. Police unit 141 interviewed the homeless man in the field.
Municipal Code Complaint—7:21 a.m.—Daisy and Almond—The caller said gardeners could be heard in the area, either on Daisy or on Dahlia, before 8 a.m. Police were unable to locate the gardeners.
Disturbance—8:50 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway and Bolsa—The caller said a transient man was verbally abusive toward passersby and was hostile toward the caller. The caller had his child with him in the car. Police were unable to locate the man.
Transient—9:09 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway and Seal Beach Boulevard—Someone took a blanket from the caller’s front porch and knocked all her lights down. The caller found one of the transients using her blanket and got it back. The caller was upset over transients on Pacific Coast Highway between Seal Beach Boulevard and 12th Street. The caller did not want to prosecute anyone or have contact with police. She only wanted the transients to leave the area. Beat unit advised.
Extra Patrol Checks Requested—10:11 a.m.—Montecito Road—A package was taken from in front of the caller’s building. The caller received notice that her package was located in Garden Grove. Suspect unknown. Time frame unknown. Log entry.
Sunday, May 29
Municipal Code Complaint—8:10 a.m.—Driftwood Avenue—The caller reported construction going on outside of the allowed hours. The caller said this was an on-going problem on Sundays. As of 8:45 a.m., the work had stopped.
Transient—11:14 a.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller said a transient man was sleeping below the pier, near the steps, with beer cans around him. He was gone by the time a police unit arrived.
Patrol Check Requested—4:08 p.m.—Electric Avenue—The caller said six 16-year-olds were playing in the construction area at the location. They were last seen going into the alley when they saw that the caller was contacting the police. They were gone by the time a police unit arrived.
IN LOS?ALAMITOS
THURSDAY, MAY 19
Welfare Check—12:22 p.m.—Katella Avenue—The caller saw a transient man walking down the street, throwing his hand up and talking to himself. Police contacted the man, who said he was making his way to Long Beach.
FRIDAY, MAY 20
OCFA—7:23 a.m.—Kings Street—The caller said someone was hitting the caller and threatening to break the caller’s windows. According to the caller, the person fell and hit his head as a result. Police assisted Orange County Fire Authority paramedics who arrived on scene to treat the man.
Traffic Hazard—11:18 a.m.—Cherry Avenue and Katella Avenue—The caller saw a horse out of its trailer.
The caller said the horse was walking on Cherry Avenue and the caller was attempting to get it back in its trailer while calling police. The caller said people kept going up to it, which looked to agitate the horse. Police made contact and assisted in loading the horse back into its trailer.
SATURDAY, MAY 21
Citizen Assist—12:39 a.m.—Catalina Street—Following a hang-up call to 911, police went to the residence and contacted the occupants.
Noah Smith was arrested on suspicion of domestic battery and on suspicion of unlawful damaging of phone and electrical lines.
Suspicious Circumstance—7:27 p.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard—The caller said that the business looked unattended with the lights on, freezer door open and doors locked. The caller said other customers were waiting by the door.
Eventually an employee arrived and the store was reopened.
MONDAY, MAY 23
Theft—2:34 p.m.—Police Department Lobby—A person reported a former employee made fraudulent charges using a company credit card that amounted to about $110,000. The person did not know if they wanted to file charges or just get their money back. No report was desired and police counseled the person.
Suspicious Persons—8:53 p.m.—Chestnut Street—The caller said four men on bikes were riding around and looking into vehicles. Police were unable to locate them.
Extra Patrol Checks—9:44 p.m.—Bunker Hill Drive—The caller said a man came to the caller’s door and told her he was spraying for fleas near the residence. After giving it more thought, the caller concluded it was suspicious and requested police do extra patrol checks throughout the neighborhood.
TUESDAY, MAY 24
Request for No Citation—9:58 a.m.—Walnut Street—The caller requested his vehicle not be cited as he was unable to move it the night before. He said police advised him not to move it after a DUI. Police denied the request because he should have made arrangements to have the vehicle moved.
Suspicious Person—2:54 p.m.—Wembly Road—The caller saw someone walk into a neighbor’s courtyard and peer into the neighbor’s kitchen window. The caller said she saw the man through a beveled glass window. Police determined that the man in question was just the mail carrier delivering mail.
Jesus Ruiz of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
