[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for August 27-29. - Brad Haugaard]
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 459 service events, resulting in 68 investigations.
Commercial Burglary / Petty Theft with Priors - Suspect Arrested
August 28 at 11:52 a.m., a business in the 1600 block of South Mountain called police to report a subject they had in custody for commercial burglary. A male subject, recently released from parole in May, was caught attempting to steal wire he had secreted between bags of garden material from the business. He admitted to the officer that he intended to steal the items. His criminal history revealed he had numerous convictions with time served for theft. He was arrested and charged with commercial burglary and petty theft with priors.
Residential Burglary
August 28 at 1:04 p.m., police were dispatched to the 600 block of Terrado regarding a residential burglary. An elderly female called police to report her home had been burglarized. She had left the home at 11:00 a.m. and returned at 1:00 p.m. When she returned home, she found someone had taken the glass louvers off of a window. Suspect(s) had entered the home and had taken items of jewelry. The investigation is continuing.
Burglary
August 28 at 9:52 p.m., police responded to the report of a burglary that occurred in the 400 block of East Olive, between 7:20 a.m. and 9:50 p.m. Unknown suspect(s) entered the garage through an unlocked door. The garage is adjacent to an alley. A green dolly was stolen. Investigation continuing.
Stolen Vehicle Recovered
August 29 at 12:28 a.m., a car was reported abandoned in the intersection of Canyon and Walnut. A subject was seen, possibly a male, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, running west from the car. Officers arrived and, after investigation, found the car had just been stolen from in front of a residence in the 800 block of South Canyon. The suspect broke a window to gain entry and punched the ignition. It appeared that although the suspect got the engine started, he was unable to unlock the steering wheel to turn the vehicle and he abandoned it at the intersection. The suspect left some tools and a backpack in the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.
Possession of Burglary Tools / Drug Paraphernalia / Stolen Property / Parole Violation - Suspect Arrested
August 29 at 9:24 a.m., a citizen called to report seeing a male subject looking into cars in the 1500 block of South Myrtle. Officers responded and located the subject, a known drug user with a history of theft. The subject was holding a multi-socket tool that looked fairly new. When questioned he admitted to taking the tool from a vehicle near Cypress and Myrtle. A further search of the subject revealed a shaved screw driver and aluminum foil pipe with residue on it. The subject was arrested and booked for the above listed charges. Additionally, the subject violated his parole and a parole hold was issued.
Detective Bureau Case Follow-Up
Armed Robbery - Primary Suspect Sentenced to 103 Years to Life
In 2008, several armed robberies were committed within the San Gabriel Valley, one of which occurred in the City of Monrovia. The robbery in Monrovia involved two armed suspects and a third get away driver. The two armed suspects entered a business in the 300 block of West Huntington, just prior to closing, while the get away driver stood by at the rear of the business. The armed suspects confronted several employees inside the business, bound their wrists, and held them at gunpoint in an office. They took cash from the business and fled in a waiting vehicle driven by the third suspect. Evidence and Investigation suggested these same suspects committed additional robberies in Pasadena, Altadena and other San Gabriel Valley cities. Monrovia detectives worked diligently on this investigation and eventually identified all three suspects.
All three of these suspects were successfully prosecuted and convicted of multiple felony charges. The sentencing for the primary suspect has been in the courts for the past 2 years, and he was finally sentenced on August 23, 2012, at the Pasadena Superior Court. He received a sentence of 103 years to life! This was great work by Monrovia investigators to bring this case to a conclusion.
