Monrovia Police: Running Car Stolen; Thief With a Key; Stolen Ping Pong Paddle; Neighbor Saw, Didn't Report; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for December 14-16. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 378 service events, resulting in 70 investigations.

Grand Theft Auto
December 14 at 7:17 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 800 block of West Walnut. The victim started the vehicle and left it running and unattended for a few minutes. When he came back to the vehicle, it was gone. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
December 15 at 6:38 a.m., an officer responded to the report of a vehicle burglary in the 1300 block of South Alta Vista. An unknown suspect entered the secured apartment complex and went to the carport area. The suspect shattered a window to gain entry to the vehicle, but nothing was taken. The investigation is continuing.

Theft of Mail
December 15 at 12:41 p.m., an incident of mail theft was reported in the 1200 block of South Alta Vista. The suspect is seen on video approaching mailboxes. He is seen removing an object from his pocket, possibly a key, and opening multiple mailboxes. The suspect then removes mail from the boxes and sets it on the ground. He then picks up the large pile of mail and leaves the location. The investigation is continuing.

Traffic Stop/Warrants – Suspects Arrested
December 15 at 9:58 p.m., officers were on patrol in the 800 block of West Colorado and noticed a vehicle traveling towards them without lights during the evening hours. The officers made a traffic stop and contacted two subjects in the vehicle. A computer check revealed both subjects had outstanding warrants for their arrest. The subjects were arrested and held pending their court appearances.

Found Property
December 16 at 1:37 a.m., while on routine patrol in the 200 block of West Colorado, an officer noticed a subject crossing the street near Colorado and Magnolia. Due to the time and cold weather, it seemed suspicious for someone to be out walking. The officer circled the block and found a subject exiting the alley of the 300 block of West Colorado. The officer recognized the subject from previous contacts. Once the subject was released, the officer drove down the alley and located a suitcase containing over 50 vintage TV and radio electrical tubes and a competitive ping pong paddle. No victims were located and the investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
December 16 at 7:12 a.m. a vehicle burglary was reported in the 1800 block of South Peck Road. The victim parked his vehicle overnight in his assigned parking space in his complex carport. When the victim returned to his vehicle, he found the shell of his truck had been pried open and his tools were missing. Security video showed two suspects enter the parking area in a Chrysler minivan. The suspects got out and one appeared to be talking on the phone, while the other suspect pried open the shell of the truck. Both suspects then took tools out of the truck bed, put them into the van and drove away. The investigation is continuing.

Mental Evaluation
December 16 at 2:15 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 100 block of West Duarte Road to check the welfare of a subject. The subject was involved in a vandalism earlier in the day. He called a friend and told the friend he wanted to hang himself because he knew he was going to go to jail for the vandalism. When the officers contacted the subject, he had a knife and a rope and told officers he wanted to hang himself. As the officers approached, the suspect tried to run. An officer attempted to stop him and they fell against a wall. The suspect hit his face on the wall and the officer sustained a contusion on his left forearm and strained his neck. The suspect broke away from the officers and, again, attempted to get away, but the officers subdued the subject and he was taken into custody without further incident. The suspect was taken to a hospital and held for mental evaluation.

Petty Theft
December 16 at 8:40 p.m., a petty theft was reported in the 800 block of Oceanview Avenue. Two UPS packages were stolen off the porch of a residence. A neighbor saw the theft, but failed to report it to the police. The suspect is described as a male, wearing a grey hoodie over his head. The suspect vehicle is an early 2000, white Ford F250, possibly a diesel, with large tires and tinted windows. The investigation is continuing.

Felony Vandalisms
December 16 at 8:41, a vandalism was reported in the 300 block of North Encinitas Avenue. The window on the victim’s vehicle had been shattered by an unknown object. As officers investigated the area, they located several other vehicles that had been vandalized and police received additional calls reporting vehicle vandalisms that sustained identical damage, possibly caused by a BB gun. The Investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
December 16 at 9:57 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a business parking lot in the 800 block of West Huntington. The victim parked and locked her vehicle in the parking lot and went into a restaurant for dinner. When she returned to her vehicle, she found the rear window shattered and a wrapped Christmas gift was stolen from the backseat. The investigation is continuing.