And now, the second installment in the 2012 Crime Log review. Last week, the Sun reported on the recovery of a girl’s bicycle by Los Alamitos Police officers. This week, we begin the July to December 2012 crime review with a look at a Seal Beach bike recovery—one that didn’t work out quite as well as one citizen might have hoped.
Finders are not keepers in real life
By Charles M. Kelly
A man found an abandoned bike on Ocean Avenue on the South Side of the Seal Beach Pier on Wednesday, Sept. 26. He apparently believed in the old adage, “finders keepers.”
It turns out that isn’t true.
He called the Seal Beach Police Department and let them know he wanted to take the bike as his own.
However, the dispatcher said he could not take the bike.
The caller then asked for an officer to be sent to the scene to take his contact information so he could claim the bike if the owner did not claim it.
Someone in the area reportedly told the caller that the bike had been there for at least two hours.
The caller apparently left the area before meeting with a Seal Beach Police officer.
A patrol officer planned to return later that night to see if the bike’s owner came to reclaim the bicycle.
The log did not say if the rightful owner ever showed up.
Crime Log Compiled
by Charles M. Kelly and Ted Apodaca
IN SEAL?BEACH
Tuesday, July 10
Golf balls—4:12 p.m.—Lampson Avenue—The caller said three juveniles, all boys, were hitting golf balls at the caller’s building. The caller said they refused to stop when they were asked to do so. An employee at a business told police unit 107 that they kicked out “a couple” of juveniles at about the time of the original call to police.
Monday, July 16
It’s called rendering unto Ceasar—10:41 a.m.—Southshore Drive—A man was reportedly going door-to-door selling Bibles. Police unit 141 found a man passing out church literature. He was advised about peddling without a permit and said he would comply with the municipal code.
Exactly how official is a uniform supposed to look?—9:35 p.m.—6th Street and Central—The caller said a man sitting on a beach chair on the corner appeared to be some type of security guard, but the caller did not think he looked official enough. The man was dressed entirely in black. Police unit 206 determined he really was a security guard, protecting film equipment.
Tuesday, July 17
Shoplifting is not a consumer right—5:10 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller reported an argument between a clerk (apparently the caller) and a customer. The customer tried to take a milk bottle because the customer said he got a bad one on Monday, July 16. The disruptive customer left the area.
Thursday, July 19
Actually, it’s amazing this doesn’t happen more often—1:16 p.m.—Main Street and Ocean Avenue—The caller said a man and a woman had an argument over a parking space.
Saturday, July 21
Disturbance, Party—2:58 a.m.—Catalina Avenue—The caller reported a noisy party in the garage next door. He wasn’t positive of the address. The partiers were advised to stop the noise and told police unit 206 they would comply.
Some vandals are simply ungrateful jerks—9:52 a.m.—Riversea Road—The caller did not originally plan to prosecute when the caller’s property was vandalized. However, the caller had a change of mind when the suspect refused to pay for the damage. Now the caller wanted to prosecute.
Sunday, July 29
In fairness to the caller, it was rather early in the day—12:01 a.m.—Hazelnut Avenue—The caller said two individuals in a car were talking loudly. Police unit 206 contacted the individuals and found two residents who were coming home from church.
Saturday, August 4
Bees have no respect for people—3:05 p.m.—Adolfo Lopez and Seal Beach Boulevard—A citizen walked into Seal Beach Police Department headquarters to report a swarm of bees in a utility box. Police placed tape around the area and referred the matter to the Public Works Department.
Monday, August 20
Towels are always in demand in a beach town—10:36 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller found a square package wrapped in a lavender towel. The caller said it was on the thin median to the left of the doors of the location, behind the first row of cars. The caller thought the package was odd. Police unit M7 determined it was just a package of towels. No further police services were necessary.
Saturday, September 1
Danger: coffee—5:24 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller, relaying second-hand information, said another citizen found a brown box next to a trash can near the park. The box was labeled “caution hot liquid inside.” The caller was sure it was just discarded coffee, but the other citizen was concerned that the package might contain something dangerous. The Starbucks container was disposed of. Police unit 107 determined no further police services were necessary.
Wednesday, September 5
If a tree branch falls and no one calls the police, does it make a sound?—5:57 a.m.—Bradbury and Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a tree branch was down in the northbound lanes of Seal Beach Boulevard. Moved.
Friday, September 7
The prime suspect wore a little black mask on his face—4:45 a.m.—Teaberry Circle—The caller said she heard someone walking on her roof for the 15 minutes prior to the call to police. She said it sounded like they were walking all over her roof. Police unit 206 responded and saw a large raccoon on the roof.
Saturday, September 8
For your neighbors’ sake, let’s hope you have sweet dreams—4:39 a.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller heard the sound of a man screaming coming from a neighbor’s residence. Police unit 206 contacted the neighbor in question. The officer determined that the man might have had a nightmare. In any case, no further police services were necessary.
Get an honest job—you’re too dumb to make it as a crook—11:11 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a man who stole a golf club left the business and then came back. The man reportedly stole a “tailor-made” golf club, stuck it down his pants and walked out of the store. He then returned. Police arrested the man for business burglary.
Do you know the repo man?—12:09 p.m.—Montecito Road—The caller said that a man in the parking lot claimed to be an auto mechanic. The man was working on a vehicle in the parking lot, but the caller didn’t think he should be. The man reportedly told the caller the name of the person he was working for, but the resident said that the suspect named did not know him. Police unit M6 contacted the supposed mechanic and found—a repossessor.
Friday, September 14
Counseling—3:19 p.m.—10th Street—A citizen walked into Seal Beach Police Department headquarters to report receiving a fraudulent check for work he was supposed to do for the check writer. However, he never did the work so the citizen did not suffer a loss.
Saturday, September 22
The dog has an alibi—3:50 a.m.—Dahlia Circle—The caller reported a dog barking in the backyard of a residence. The caller said the dog sounded excited, which made the caller suspect something might be wrong.
As of 4:09 a.m., police unit 206 contacted a neighbor who owned a dog. The neighbor said his dog wasn’t the one that was barking as his dog was in bed with him for the past five minutes.
Friday, September 21
Don’t ask strangers for candy—2:41 p.m.—Katella and Bloomfield—The caller reported a man talking with two 7- to 9-year-old girls in the grass on the corner.
The man showed the girls something in his backpack and the caller thought it looked suspicious. Patrol contacted the man, who was a crossing guard. The girls were asking the crossing guard for candy and the guard showed them his empty backpack to show that he had no candy. Checked out OK.
Tuesday, November 6
That’s not paint, ma’am—8:22 a.m.—Crystal Cove Way—The caller said someone threw paint on her driveway. She wanted an officer to take a look at it. She said she was unable to wash it off. The caller had just put an election sign in her yard and she did not know if it was related. She also requested extra patrol checks in the area.
It turned out no one put paint on her driveway. Police unit 107 advised the woman regarding bird droppings.
Saturday, November 24
Yes, but were there fries in the glove box?—11:39 a.m.—Bayside and Crestview—The caller said an individual was selling meat door-to-door from a Japanese truck with a cooler on the back.
Wednesday, December 5
That doesn’t seem consistent with the spirit of the season—4:22 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller said an unknown number of individuals were hiding in a Christmas tree and yelling at passers by.
IN Leisure World
Wednesday, October 3
Sometimes you need to turn computers off—12:42 a.m.—Thunderbird Drive, Mutual Unknown—Reports of yelling and screaming turned out to be a dispute over the use of a computer.
No crime. Both parties were counseled. As of 1:06 a.m., they were playing solitaire. No further police services were necessary.
IN LOS?ALAMITOS
Thursday, July 5
Stolen security camera—2:12 p.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard—The caller said a security camera was taken from the rear of the business, possibly over the previous weekend. The caller had someone review the tape to try and determine when the theft occurred.
Report taken.
Tuesday, July 31
We’ll have that on rye, but please hold the argument—6:31 p.m.—Howard Avenue—The caller reported hearing an altercation in the apartment next door. The caller heard screaming and people throwing things.
The individuals involved were a man and a woman, both described as being in their 30s. Patrol contacted the couple, who checked out OK.
The disturbance was a verbal altercation over a turkey sandwich.
IN ROSSMOOR
Thursday, November 29
Nice to know some kids know what’s important—7:21 p.m.—Donovan Road—A caller heard a 10-year-old crying in the street.
A deputy determined that the 10-year-old yelled at his dad to stop the car so he could get his homework.
