According to Sgt. Steve Bowles, public information officer for the Seal Beach Police Department, robberies so far this year are “in line” with prior years.
There have been three confirmed robberies in Seal Beach so-far this year.
Two of those robberies took place on Wednesday night, Feb. 17, when a Hispanic man held up a Starbucks coffee shop at gunpoint, and on Saturday night, Feb. 20, when two African American men robbed two other men in Old Town.
According to Bowles, in 2008, there were 10 robberies in Seal Beach. One robbery occurred in February 2008. Two robberies occurred in January 2008.
In 2009, there were 11 robberies in Seal Beach. No robberies occurred in February 2009. There were three robberies in January 2009.
“So we’re kind of in line, statistically,” Bowles said.
According to Los Alamitos Capt. Bruce McAlpine, there were 12 robberies in Los Alamitos in 2009. None took place in February.
According to the 2009 Orange County Sheriff’s Department Report for Rossmoor, there were zero robberies in the unincorporated community in 2009. There was one robbery during the first quarter of 2008.
Sunset Beach crime statistics are not available.
They are lumped together with reported crimes in all unincorporated communities in Orange County.
In response to the recent robberies, the Sun Newspapers posted the following question at the Sun’s Web site, www.sunnews.org:
“Considering recent robberies in the area, do you feel safe in Seal Beach?”
As of Monday, March 8, 20 people had responded. Seven of them voted “Yes, I feel safe.” Six voted, “No, I don’t feel safe.” Seven more voted, “I don’t believe recent robberies in the area have anything to do with my safety in Seal Beach.”
To make a comment on this story for the Sun Newspapers’ Web site, go to Sunnews.org.
Crime Log Assembled by Charles M. Kelly
The crimes listed in the Sun Newspapers were reported to Seal Beach Police Department, Los Alamitos Police Department and Orange County Sheriff Department between Feb. 22 and Feb. 7, 2010. Only street names are used; times given are reported times, not incident times. Crime Log entries are based on preliminary information. Space limitations make it impossible to publish every incident. Until proven guilty in a court of law, all suspects are considered innocent.
IN SEAL BEACH
Tuesday, February 23
Vehicle Burglary—12:45 a.m.—14th Street and Landing—Point of entry: smashed passenger side window. Loss: GPS. Report taken.
Wednesday, February 24
Stray Animal—11:20 a.m.—Silver Shoals Avenue and Bolsa Avenue—The caller reported a dog on the roof of a resident. Referred to Long Beach Animal Care Services.
Suspicious Person—4:11 p.m.—7th Street—A man came to the caller’s door and said he was a communications major. The caller said he did not make much sense. He was described as a white man in his 20s wearing a black hooded sweatshirt. At 10:20 p.m., the caller requested extra patrol checks because of the incident.
Thursday, February 25
Vandalism—12:40 p.m.—5th Street—The dual pane glass to a sliding door was shattered. According to the press log, no one entered the building. The glass might possibly have been broken by a large animal. Log item issued.
Counseling—1:40 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—Four black men in a burgundy Ford came to the location and had a verbal dispute with the caller. One of them reportedly threatened the caller. The caller thought they looked like gang members. No report desired. Extra patrol checks requested.
Smoke Investigation—5:39 p.m.—1st Street—At 5:39 p.m., the caller reported the smoke coming from a building. The caller did not know if anyone was inside. The Orange County Fire Authority was en route. At 5:41 p.m., the caller said the smoke was caused by burned food and asked to cancel the call. Both the police and fire calls were canceled before units could arrive at the scene.
Thrown Substance/Object at Vehicle—6 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard and Golden Rain Road—Police received a report that a man was being followed by someone in a red Toyota 4-runner. The suspect was apparently throwing things at the caller’s vehicle—possibly change. The suspect vehicle did a U-turn and headed back toward the 405 Freeway. When the suspect vehicle drove onto the 405 freeway, the call was transferred to the California Highway Patrol.
Friday, February 26
Suspicious Circumstances—1:31 a.m.—B Row, Surfside Colony—The caller said a man was trying vehicle door handles in the area. He was carrying a small flashlight. The suspect was described as a man in his 30s, 5 feet 10 inches, weighing 170 pounds.
Illegal Peddler—11:45 a.m.—Galleon Way—A man rang the caller’s door bell. When she looked out, he told her that he was doing something and needed to make eye contact. This struck the caller as suspicious. He was described as a white man in his 20s with dark hair. Police located the man and issued him a citation.
Citizen Assist—10:22 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller was driving a big rig tractor trailer. The caller needed help finding a place to park while he visited his elderly father. Assisted.
Saturday, February 27
Vehicle Burglary—12:28 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The crime apparently occurred between 9:30 a.m. and noon. Point of entry: a smashed window. Loss: GPS. Report taken.
Pelican—1:40 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The bird was in the northbound lanes. The caller and some other people were standing by with the bird. The caller was told that Long Beach Animal Care Services would arrive in approximately 15 minutes.
Sunday, February 28
Transient—3:01 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—A Hispanic man got into a dispute with the caller inside a place of business. He was outside at the time of the call to police. The caller told police he might possibly be drunk. Police arrested the man for public drunkenness and for indecent exposure.
Vehicle Burglary—5:18 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The crime apparently occurred between 6 a.m. and the time of the call to police. Point of entry: a pried driver’s side door. Loss: stereo. Report taken.
Citizen Assist—6:36 p.m.—8th Street—The caller, an 83-year-old woman, lost her keys and did not have a flashlight with her to help find them. She requested police assistance. She was assisted.
IN LOS ALAMITOS
Tuesday, March 2
Suspicious Occupied Vehicle—3:28 p.m.—La Colmena Way—The caller saw a man writing notes on a piece of paper. The individual appeared angry when the caller looked at him. A Los Alamitos Police Department officer spoke with the man and sent him on his way.
Saturday, March 6
Traffic Hazard—11:29 p.m.—Katella Avenue—A car was blocking a lane of traffic. Officers found a man returning to the car with a gas can. He said his car ran out of gas. The vehicle was moved.
Sunday, March 7
Loud Music—1:45 a.m.—Florista St.—Music was reportedly emanating from a residence. Officers found a group of juveniles playing a video game and told them to turn it down.
IN ROSSMOOR
Monday, March 1
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—3:26 p.m.—Kensington Road—A student at Hopkinson Elementary School found a “part of a weapon” outside the school. Report taken.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—4:49 p.m.—Druid Lane—A caller reported a suspicious person in the area. Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputies stopped the individual and determined that nothing was suspicious going on.
Saturday, March 6
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—8:17 p.m.—Brimhall Drive—A patrol unit checked the area and was unable to locate the suspicious person.
IN SUNSET BEACH
Friday, March 5
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—10:43 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway— Deputies made contact with the suspect. Deputies searched the vehicle. After that, the individual was free to leave.
Brian Smith of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
