Monrovia Police: Kidnapping for Reconciliation Unsuccessful; Robbery; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 1-4. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Stolen Vehicle
On May 1 at 12:28 a.m., an employee from a business in the 300 block of West Maple parked his car on the street, leaving the doors unlocked and the key in the ignition. When he returned to the vehicle, it was gone. The car is a silver, 2014 Prius with paper plates. The investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary
On May 2 at 8:41 a.m., officers responded to a business in the 100 block of East Lemon regarding a burglary. Unknown suspect(s) broke out the glass front door, went directly to the pharmacy and took Codeine, then fled back out the front door. The investigation is continuing.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered – Suspect Arrested
On May 2 at 9:22 a.m., dispatch received information about a vehicle in the 100 block of West Lemon. A computer check revealed the vehicle was stolen out of Monrovia. An officer completed a grand theft auto report and broadcast the vehicle information. An officer on patrol was actively looking for the stolen vehicle and saw three subjects, one of them was hiding behind a vehicle in a parking lot in the 100 block of West Lime Avenue. The officer observed a set of keys, a gas card, and a gift card on the ground where the subject was hiding. The keys were to the stolen vehicle. The suspect admitted to taking the vehicle and to the theft of the cards. The suspect was arrested.

Kidnapping – Suspect Arrested
On May 2 at 7:26 p.m., officers were dispatched to the area of Chestnut and Monterey on the report of a kidnapping that just occurred. Several witnesses called dispatch to report an adult male suspect forced an adult female into his vehicle. A description of the suspect and his vehicle was provided. Officers searched the area, but were unable to locate the suspect or victim. Approximately two hours later, the victim called police to report the incident. The victim said her ex-boyfriend forced her into his vehicle and brought her to his residence in an effort to reestablish their relationship. The victim was able to negotiate her release and left unharmed. She went home and called the police. Officers went to the suspect's residence in the 400 block of South Alta Vista and arrested him. The suspect claimed the victim entered his vehicle under her own volition. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Vehicle Burglary
On May 2 at 8:13 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 900 block of West Huntington. The victim parked her vehicle in a business parking lot and locked and secured her vehicle, but left her purse on the floorboard. When she returned to the vehicle, she found the right front passenger window was smashed and her Coach handbag was stolen. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
On May 2 at 10:27 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 100 block of North Magnolia. The reporting party is a neighbor who was house sitting for the victims, who were out of town. The suspect(s) forced entry to the home through the front door. The house was ransacked, but the loss cannot be determined until the victims return home. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
On May 2 at 10:57 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 400 block of Concord on the report of a residential burglary. The suspect(s) forced entry to the victim's home through the front door. The house was ransacked and property was stolen. The victim will conduct an inventory of her missing property. The investigation is continuing.

Suspicious Subject / Theft From a Vehicle / Recovered Stolen Property – Suspect Arrested
On May 3 at 10:25 a.m., dispatch received a call reporting a suspicious person using a hose at a residence in the 500 block of West Colorado. An officer contacted the subject, who claimed he knew the resident who lived in the back of the location. Due to the subject’s suspicious actions, officers searched the subject and found a credit card in a woman's name. The subject claimed the credit card belonged to a female friend and he was holding on to it until he could return it to her. Attempts to locate the female were unsuccessful. The credit card was held as property under observation and the subject was released. Later in the shift, the officer was able to contact the owner of the credit card. She discovered her purse, which contained her credit card, had been taken from her unlocked vehicle. Officers were able to relocate the suspect and arrested him for possession of the stolen credit card. The suspect told the officer the location of the purse and the purse was recovered.

Robbery
On May 3 at 5:25 p.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 100 block of West Foothill regarding a robbery. A male Hispanic suspect in his mid-twenties who had concealed merchandise on his person was confronted outside the store by loss prevention. The suspect threatened the loss prevention officer with a knife and ran. Officers arrived and conducted and area search, but the suspect was not located. The suspect was identified and the investigation continued. On May 5 at 1:00 p.m., an officer on patrol in the 300 block of South Myrtle recognized the robbery suspect. The suspect saw the officer and ducked down in an attempt to hide behind another subject. He then ran in the front entrance of the library. Containment was set up and officers entered the library to conduct a search for the suspect. The suspect attempted to run from officers, but was quickly taken into custody and arrested.

Vehicle Burglary – Suspects Arrested
On May 3 at 10:34 p.m., a resident in the 800 block of West Walnut called police to report two suspects he contacted inside his vehicle, which was parked in the street. The victim confronted the suspects, who returned his property and fled. The suspects were detained by officers in the 900 block of South Fifth. They were identified by the victim and arrested.