Police learned five Los Alamitos homes were burglarized last week. “There’s no loss that’s been discovered in any of the burglaries,” said Capt. Bruce McAlpine of the Los Alamitos Police Department.
Three Highland neighborhood homes were burglarized on Thursday afternoon, Aug. 19, according to a statement issued by the Police Department.
The police called the three crimes a “spree.”
Those crimes apparently occurred between 3:40 and 5 p.m.
Two more burglaries were discovered Thursday night and Saturday morning, Aug. 21, according to Capt. Bruce McAlpine of the Los Al PD.
“The M.O. was essentially the same,” McAlpine said.
In all of the burglaries, someone kicked open the front door of a house, went in and ransacked the bedrooms.
On Thursday, Aug. 19, an 18-year-old woman was in her Reagan Street home on the 11600 block when a suspect startled her by entering her residence.
She screamed.
She ran into the bathroom, locked the door and called 911.
The suspect did not harm her.
Apparently frightened by her screams, he fled. The other burglaries occurred on the 11800 block of Pine Street and the 3700 block of La Colmena Way. No one was home during those two burglaries.
A suspect was seen in the area. Police say he was acting suspiciously. He was described as a white man, 20 to 30 years old, with blond hair. He was reportedly driving a black vehicle.
“The Highlands neighborhood is located in the southern part of Los Alamitos, east of Los Alamitos Boulevard and adjacent to the Joint Forces Training Base,” the police press release said.
The fourth burglary, discovered later Thursday night, occurred on the 700 block of Rossmoor Way. The fifth burglary, discovered on Saturday, occurred on the 12000 block of Pine Street.
McAlpine said the Orange County crime lab had been called in. Police did not yet have the results of the crime scene investigation. There are no leads at this time.
As far as preventing similar crimes was concerned, McAlpine recommended that residents make sure they have sturdy deadbolt locks on all their doors. That wouldn’t necessarily prevent someone from kicking in a door, but it would help.
McAlpine also advised neighbors to keep an eye on one another and to be aware of their surroundings.
Police are asking anyone with information about the burglaries to call (562) 431-2255.
To make a comment on this story at 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 Aug. 9 and Aug. 21, 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
Monday, August 9
Suspicious Circumstances—2 p.m.—Ironwood Avenue—This turned out to be a residential burglary. According to Sgt. Steve Bowles, public information officer for the Seal Beach Police Department, some kicked in the front door and ransacked the home. Loss: approximately $15,000 in property.
Dog Locked in Vehicle—6:15 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a dog was locked inside a vehicle. The caller said the windows were only slightly open and the dog had been inside for the last 30 minutes. The caller apparently located a man who identified himself as the dog’s owner.
The dog owner told the caller to mind his own business.
The caller told police he thought the heat was getting to the dog. Police unit 121 checked and determined the dog was OK.
No further police services were required.
Tuesday, August 10
Suspicious Circumstances—11:03 a.m.—Central Avenue and 6th Street—The caller said there was a ladder leading to the second story balcony of the building. The caller thought the ladder was suspicious.
The caller was also suspicious because the caller did not see the people with the ladder enter through the front door.
Police unit 113 determined that the people with the ladder were a crew working on a deck.
Baby Locked in a Vehicle—1:55 p.m.—Marvista Avenue—The caller’s 2-year-old granddaughter was locked in a car, along with the keys.
The windows were rolled up. Police stood by until AAA arrived to remove the child from the car.
Disturbance, Juveniles—6:10 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller complained about juveniles jumping on vehicles. The caller said the six juveniles, described as 15 to 16 years old, were originally kicked out of the store for playing tag inside. They were also seen throwing things at vehicles.
Overdose—10:19 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—A customer inside Starbucks apparently experienced an overdose.
According to the log, the man had been smoking something from a tin can. Ultimately, the man was arrested for being under the influence of methamphetamine.
Wednesday, August 11
Grand Theft Report—1:40 p.m.—11th Street—A 7-foot decorative bamboo surfboard was stolen from the caller’s front yard between 6:15 a.m. and 1 p.m. The surfboard was valued at $1,000.
Attempted Burglary—7:50 p.m.—1st Street—The caller said an unknown male entered the caller’s residence through the patio door. Nothing was taken. The suspect was described as white, 17-20 years old, 5 feet 9 inches, thin, with blond hair, wearing a white shirt, shorts of unknown color and a hemp necklace. Report taken.
Thursday, August 12
Possible Transient—8:25 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller said a homeless man was in front of the caller’s door and parking lot, asking customer s for money. Police unit 113 checked and determined no further police services were necessary. The man in question, according to unit 113, was loud at times and had been warned about his behavior approximately 5 minutes earlier.
Booking—10:48 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—A pay-to-stay inmate was booked into the Seal Beach Jail.
Friday, August 13
Patrol Check Requested—3:07 a.m.—Candleberry Avenue and Wisteria Street—The caller said two men were sleeping on the sidewalk on Candleberry Avenue. The caller did not know if they were transients or not. The caller was leaving for work and just drove past them. Police unit 121 contacted three people, not two. They were stargazing residents.
Traffic Hazard—7:58 a.m.—Lampson Avenue and Baswood Street—The caller said construction workers did not have the cones set up correctly for traffic. Police unit 117 checked and determined the cones were set up properly.
Saturday, August 14
Welfare Check—3:52 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a Hispanic woman said she needed money. The woman, described in the log as a possible transient, had an infant with her.
Traffic Hazard—4:31 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—An elderly man in an electronic wheelchair was going in and out of traffic, southbound on Seal Beach Boulevard.
Sunday, August 15
Vandalism Report—8:16 p.m.—Seal Way—The caller reported that a car had two slashed tires. Report taken.
IN LOS ALAMITOS
Monday, August 16
Disturbance Family—2:22 a.m.—Farquhar Avenue—A man and a woman were arguing outside behind a residence. Officers found a boyfriend and girlfriend in a disagreement. The boyfriend agreed to leave for the night.
Tuesday, August 17
Disturbance—5 p.m.—Katella and Los Alamitos—Two individuals were fighting on a bus. Officers helped separate the pair.
Wednesday, August 18
Suspicious Person—1:07 a.m.—Farquhar and Maple—Two male individuals seen trying to open car doors.
Friday, August 20
Burglary Report—3:40 p.m.—Pine Street—Front door of a residence was kicked in and the residence ransacked. Nothing was reported taken from the residence but a report was taken. This was apparently the fourth of five residential burglaries that occurred in Los Alamitos last week. For details, see the lead story on page 4.
Saturday, August 21
Fraud Report—9:43 a.m.—El Dorado Way—The caller was supposed to receive a check from his employer but someone else cashed it. He was counseled.
Sunday, August 22
Loud Music—11:14 p.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard—The caller said someone was playing loud music from his vehicle and had been going in and out of parking lots.
IN ROSSMOOR
Tuesday, August 17
Municipal Code Violations—6:53 p.m.—Ruth Elaine Drive.
Wednesday, August 18
Annoying Phone Call—7:49 p.m.—Harrisburg Road.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—10:08 p.m.—Wembley Road.
Thursday, August 19
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—1:32 a.m.—Druid Lane.
Disturbance, Mechanical—1:56 a.m.—Coleridge Drive.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—2:08 a.m.—Hillrose Drive.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—11:13 a.m.—Brimhall Drive and Foster Road.
Friday, August 20
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—12:49 a.m.—Silver Fox Road.
Disturbance, Music or Party—11:41 p.m.—Orangewood Avenue.
Saturday, August 21
Disturbance, Music or Party—12:41 a.m.—Weatherby Road.
Disturbance, Music or Party—3:27 a.m.—Oak Knoll Drive.
IN SUNSET BEACH
Monday, August 16
Drunk in Public—6:53 p.m.—Pacific Avenue.
Tuesday, August 17
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—11:30 a.m.—N. Pacific Avenue and 10th Street.
Wednesday, August 18
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—2:33 p.m.—Pacific Avenue.
Friday, August 20
Battery Report—7:04 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway and Warner Avenue.
Disturbance, Auto Involved—11:01 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway and 2nd Street.
Brian Smith of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
