Last month, automobile burglary and vandalism dominated reported or discovered crimes in Long Beach’s Belmont Shore neighborhood, according to crimereports.com.
There were seven vehicle burglaries and two petty thefts from vehicles in Belmont Shore in January. (The distinction is a matter of law. If the car is locked and someone breaks into the car to take something, that is vehicle burglary and a felony. If someone steals something from an unlocked car, the crime is only a felony if the value of the property qualifies the crime as a grand theft. Otherwise, it is petty theft from a vehicle—a misdemeanor.)
The vehicle burglary figures were slightly higher than those reported in December, when there were five automobile burglaries in Long Beach’s Belmont Shore.
When looking at crime statistics, remember that the figures only reflect those crimes reported to or discovered by the police.
Theft in general was a recurring theme of the January Belmont Shore crime report:
Three homes were burglarized. Five cars were stolen (one more than were stolen in January). Four bicycles were stolen. There were three unspecified petty thefts reported taken, the same number apparently taken in December.
Vandalism was another common property crime last month, with eight incidents known to the police.
DUI reports increased from the end of last year to the start of this year. There were nine DUIs reported in Belmont Shore last month. There were six in December.
Jeff Miller is secretary of the Belmont Shore Residents Association. He compiles the Belmont Shore crime data from crimereports.com.
Crime Log Compiled
by Charles M. Kelly
IN SEAL?BEACH
Monday, February 10
Extra Patrol Checks Requested—10:10 a.m.—A Row Surfside—The caller asked for extra patrol checks for cars that block the trash bins on trash collection days. Log entry.
Graffiti/Vandalism—11:45 a.m.—Main Street—The caller said that someone used a crayon or a marker to write graffiti on the trash can area of a business. The caller reported the same graffiti on the rear door of another location. The words the suspect wrote were redacted (blacked out) in the log. Report taken.
Suspicious Person—8:48 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller said a man was parked in the parking lot. He was near the trash bins to the rear of a bank. At 8:50 p.m, the caller said the man was now standing behind a trash bin, talking into his cell phone. Police unit 207 interviewed the man in the field.
Tuesday, February 11
Disturbance—2:20 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said two large trucks parked to the rear of the location were idling and loud. Police unit 206 advised the truck drivers about the noise.
Hail By Citizen—9:32 a.m.—Beachcomber Drive—A citizen flagged down police unit 106.
The citizen was concerned about an occupied car that had been parked in front of a residence with the engine running for the past 20 minutes.
The citizen last saw the individual in the car speaking on a cell phone. It was gone when the police arrived at the location.
Theft—11:58 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a man with a cart full of groceries put some items in a back pack. He left on a silver-colored bicycle The caller yelled at him to stop . He said: “No way.”
Loss: at least one bottle of alcohol. Police searched, but were unable to locate the suspect. No report desired.
Reported Petty Theft—9:28 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller left her wallet in a shopping cart. When she went back to retrieve it, the wallet was gone. That was two hours prior to the call to police. The wallet contained $5 cash, credit cards and the caller’s Social Security card.
Fortunately, it turned out that the wallet wasn’t stolen. A citizen found it and contacted the police. At 11:28 p.m., the woman who found the wallet returned it to the woman who owned the wallet.
Wednesday, February 12
Vehicle Burglary—7:27 a.m.—Guava Avenue—The crime apparently took place overnight. Point of entry: someone apparently used a rock to smash an unspecified window. Loss: wallet and briefcase.
Dog—7:54 a.m.—5th Street and Ocean Avenue—The caller said a black and white dog that was off the leash was being allowed to defecate on the beach. The caller was upset about similar problems that were on-going. The caller was counseled. Referred.
Counseling—11:23 a.m.—Oleander Street—The caller said neighbors on another street were having trees cut down. The caller said the workers were being destructive and damaging the caller’s property.
The caller tried to contact neighbors, but they were not home. The caller tried to speak with the workers, but they did not speak English. The caller was concerned that a tree would fall on his home. Counseled.
Thursday, February 13
Traffic Stop—9:42 p.m.—Studebaker and Pacific Coast Highway—The driver was cooperative. He had been drinking. His passenger had been drinking even more. They took a cab home. Warned.
Dead Animal—11:04 p.m.—Marina Drive—The caller reported a dead opossum in the eastbound lanes of Marina Drive. Message delivered to Long Beach Animal Care Services.
IN Leisure World
Monday, February 10
Vehicle Burglary Report—9:39 a.m.—Fresh Meadow Lane, Mutual 3—A citizen reported the loss of documents that were apparently taken from the glove box of the citizen’s car. The citizen believed the car was locked. The crime took place in January. Report taken.
IN ROSSMOOR
Tuesday, February 11
Burglary in Progress—3:11 a.m.—Yellowtail Drive.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—1:05 p.m.—Walker Lee Drive and Foster Road.
Wednesday, February 12
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—9:46 a.m.—Druid Lane.
Thursday, February 13
Prowler—4:27 a.m.—Hillrose Drive.
Illegal Peddling—2:26 p.m.—Walker Lee Drive.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—8:10 p.m.—Shakespeare Drive.
Friday, February 14
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—9:25 a.m.—Montecito Road.
Saturday, February 15
Disturbance, Music or Party—1:21 a.m.—Channing Way.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—2:32 p.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard.
Sunday, February 16
Disturbance, Family Dispute—6 p.m.—Hillrose Drive.
Disturbance—8:55 p.m.—Kempton Drive.
Ted Apodaca of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
