Crime Log: Two robberies occur in Seal Beach about one hour apart

Two armed robberies occurred in Seal Beach about an hour apart on Tuesday night, May 13. The victim in the second robbery was struck in the face.

“At this time, we have no reason to believe the two incidents are related,” said Seal Beach Police Sgt. Phil Gonshak, the department’s public information officer.

According to Gonshak, Seal Beach has had four robberies this year.

“However, the numbers are still within the norm for this time of year, as we had (three) by this time last year,” Gonshak said.

AT&T store robbery

On May 13, at 8:22 p.m., a lone man entered the AT&T store at 12830 Seal Beach Blvd., and ordered all of the patrons and employees to lie on the ground.

He was armed. The suspect then escorted the manager to the rear office area to unlock a storage area, where the suspect gathered a large amount of merchandise into a black plastic bag. The suspect then fled the location on foot. No vehicle was observed leaving the area.

The suspect was described as a black man, 25 years old, 5 feet 8 inches, weighing 160 pounds, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, dark pants, a tan baseball cap, and sunglasses.

The weapon was described as a black semi-automatic handgun. The loss included numerous iPhones and iPads.

Old Town mugging

On May 13, at 9:30 p.m., two men armed with guns approached a Seal Beach man on Central Avenue between Seventh Street and Eighth Street, and demanded money.

When the victim said he did not have anything on him, the suspects struck his face and stole his iPhone.

According to the police, the victim’s description of the attackers was minimal.

The suspects were described as two black men in their 30s wearing dark clothing.

The suspects left the area in a large, dark American-made sedan. Anyone with information about these incidents should call Detective Gary Krogman at (562) 799-4100, extension 1108 or email gkrogman@sealbeachca.gov.

OC Sheriff seeks missing Rossmoor man

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is looking for a Rossmoor man who has been missing since early May.

Michael A. Gal, born July 15, 1972, was last seen on Monday, May 5, at 7 a.m., his residence in the unincorporated community of Rossmoor.

He sent his family a text message at 4 p.m. and has not been heard from since.

Gal is described as a Caucasian man with blue eyes and short, salt-and-pepper colored hair, standing 6 feet tall, and weighing 230 pounds.

He was wearing as dark, short sleeve polo shirt, khaki  shorts, blue tennis shoes. Family members are concerned because Gal has been under unusual stress recently and his abrupt disappearance is uncharacteristic behavior, according to an OCSD missing person flyer.

Gal’s vehicle was located by the Long Beach Police Department on May 8, near El Dorado Park but Gal was not found.

Anyone with any information regarding Gal’s whereabouts is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 714-647-7055.

Crime Log Compiled by Charles M. Kelly

IN SEAL BEACH

Tuesday, May 13

Patrol Check—4:51 p.m.—Marina Drive and First Street—A patrol unit checked for two men in their 20s who were reportedly seen diving into the water from the Marina Bridge.

Welfare Check—8:19 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller reported a baby crying. The caller was concerned for the child’s safety. Police unit 207 checked determined that the child was upset about going to bed, but was asleep by the time the police arrived. No further police services were necessary.

Wednesday, May 14

Fraud—11:38 a.m.—Main Street—A citizen received a call from someone claiming to represent a creditor. She paid the balance over the phone. She called back the creditor to confirm that the payment was received and was told they would not use a telephone call to collect a payment. Report taken.

Thursday, May 15

Fake Money—Noon—Main Street—The caller reported discovering that he had been given a counterfeit $50 bill. The caller didn’t know who gave it to him.

Vehicle Burglary—7:53 p.m.—Marina Drive—Someone broke a window of the caller’s Jeep within the four hours prior to the call to police. Loss: miscellaneous items. Report taken.

IN ROSSMOOR

Monday, May 12

Burglary in Progress—6:37 p.m.—Hedwig Road and Weatherby Road—The caller reported a man at the driver’s side window of a car with a screwdriver jammed in the window. It turned out that the patrol unit that responded had had prior contact with the man. It was his car. He had locked his keys in the car.

Tuesday, May 13

Suspicious Person or Circumstances—7:26 p.m.—Martha Ann Drive and Mainway Drive—The caller was upset about a man who walked across the caller’s front yard while headed towards the Hopkinson School.

Wednesday, May 14

Suspicious Person or Circumstances—8:03 a.m.—Copa De Oro Drive—A deputy searched for a man who was reported standing in front of the location and acting fidgety.

Suspicious Person in Vehicle—11:50 a.m.—Blume Drive—A deputy searched for a white four-door sedan occupied by a woman.

The car was driving very fast in the area and reportedly acting suspicious.

Disturbance—11:21 p.m.—Montecito Road—The caller reported a woman yelling at the location.

Thursday, May 15

Suspicious Person in Vehicle—9:54 p.m.—Silver Fox Road—The caller reported being suspicious of the occupied campus safety vehicle that was parked across from the caller’s location for the past 30 minutes.

Suspicious Person or Circumstances—9:03 p.m.—Woodstock Road—A deputy searched for three men who were reportedly sitting around a bucket that they lit on fire.

Suspicious Person or Circumstances—12:33 a.m.—Loch Lomond Road—The caller’s dogs had been barking towards the front of the caller’s residence, which the caller said was unusual. The caller heard a car door close, but did not know if it was related.

Friday, May 16

Burglary in Progress—3:02 p.m.—Bostonian Drive—The log did not say if this was a residential or automobile burglary.

Burglary in Progress—3:21 p.m.—Martha Ann Drive—The log did not say if this was a residential or automobile burglary.

Burglary Report—5:45 p.m.—Kensington Road—The log did not say if this was a residential or automobile burglary.

Burglary in Progress—10 p.m.—Martha Ann Drive—The log did not say if this was a residential or automobile burglary.

Saturday, May 17

Vandalism Report—1:48 a.m.—Druid Lane.

Sunday, May 18

Burglary in Progress—6:22 p.m.—Oak Knoll Drive and Montecito Road

IN BELMONT SHORE

Wednesday, May 14

Beaking and Entering—9:09 a.m.—Santa Ana Avenue—Long Beach Police officers took a report of a residential burglary.

Ted Apodaca of the News-Enterprise and Jeff Miller, secretary of the Belmont Shore Residents Association, contributed to this article.