Warm weather has attracted crowds to the beach, according to Seal Beach Marine Safety (Lifeguard) Chief Joe Bailey.
Even so, things have been comparatively quiet of late now that summer is over and lifeguard staff has been reduced.
“We have reduced our weekend staff to between 8-10 lifeguards and during the week we are down to 4 lifeguards,” wrote Bailey in his latest report to the city manager.
The report, which covered Sept. 14 thru 20, said there were four rescues, four boat rescues and 12 medical aid calls (of which three were classified as serious) during the week.
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OLD TOWN ADW Investigation continues
Seal Beach Police detectives are still working on the August assault with a deadly weapon that occurred in Old Town.
As reported in the Aug. 23 issue of the Sun, two groups apparently got into a fight at about 2:30 a.m. on Aug. 11. One individual suffered serious enough injuries to require medical treatment at a hospital.
The log did not specify the type of weapon or weapons used in the assault.
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Crime Log Compiled by Charles M. Kelly
IN SEAL?BEACH
Monday, September 10
911 Hang-Up—2:14 p.m.—Elder Avenue—There was no emergency. The caller’s phone fell off the bed.
Counseling—2:22 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—A citizen came to Seal Beach Police Department Headquarters to report receiving a notice of a citation from the city. The citizen said someone else was using the citizen’s information. Report taken.
Burglary—3:10 p.m.—8th Street—Someone broke into the caller’s garage and stole a green mountain bike of unknown value sometime that day. Because the bike’s value is unknown, the crime would have been classified as a petty theft—a misdemeanor. However, by breaking into a locked garage, the suspect committed a burglary (a felony), which carries a more severe penalty if the suspect is ever identified, arrested and convicted.
Terrorist Threats—3:26 p.m.—Bluebell Street—A real estate agent reported receiving a threatening phone call from the resident of a unit below a unit that the agent represents. The initial cause of the hostility was apparently leaking plumbing.
Municipal Code—4:55 p.m.—Dolphin Avenue—The caller said an unspecified number of individuals were riding a go cart in the alley between Dolphin and Ocean, causing a noise disturbance and not wearing helmets. Police unit 107 contacted three individuals and determined no further police services were necessary.
Tuesday, September 11
Naval Weapons Station—2:31 a.m.—Westminster Avenue—Naval Weapons Station personnel found an individual passed out in a vehicle in the eastbound lanes. The individual was arrested for public drunkenness.
Open Door—7:23 a.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller reported open doors on one side of a residence. The caller also complained about letter drawn on dust at the site that the caller described as “gang type lettering.”
Dead Animal—10:15 a.m.—Forrestal and Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said there was a dead raccoon in the northbound lanes north of Forrestal. Someone else had already reported this to the police.
Traffic Hazard, Tree—12:28 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller said a large tree branch was just about to fall at the location. Referred to Public Works.
Road Rage—5:12 p.m.—Westminster Avenue and Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller, a motorist, said the driver of another vehicle threw a handful of change at the caller’s vehicle. The damage to the caller’s vehicle, if any, was unknown. The caller was following the suspect vehicle. However, the caller’s car passed Bolsa Chica. The dispatcher transferred the call to Westminster. Disposition: Outside jurisdiction.
Wednesday, September 12
Extra Patrol Checks Requested—5:28 a.m.—Main Street and Electric Avenue—The caller said there was a continuing problem with trucks racing down Main Street every morning. The caller said drivers speed southbound to the parking lot by the Seal Beach Pier. According to the caller, the drivers appear to be oil rig employees due to the fact they get on the boat for transportation to the rigs. Log entry.
Reported Traffic Hazard—8:20 a.m.—Marlin Avenue—The caller said a large motorhome was blocking the view of on-coming and passing vehicles.
The caller said the motor home had not moved in two weeks and asked the police to issue a citation. However, police unit 107 determined that the motorhome was legally parked. No further police services were necessary.
Fraud Report—10:14 a.m.—El Dorado Drive—The caller reported two fraudulent transactions on her credit card account totaling $4,091.46. Report taken.
Municipal Code—12:22 p.m.—Electric Avenue and 12th Street—The caller said two men were going through recyclables.
Thursday, September 13
Petty Theft Report—11:30 a.m.—1st Street—Loss: a red Huffy bike with green decals and a white basket. Report taken.
Burglary Report—12:22 p.m.—11th Street—Loss: an iPad and work laptop valued at $1,100. Someone came into the caller’s home and took the lost property from a table while the caller was asleep. Report taken.
Petty Theft—5:16 p.m.—Pansy Street—A citizen reported a theft from a vehicle. The car was left unlocked, making the crime one of petty theft. (Breaking into a locked car carries a more severe penalty.) Loss: personal checks, of which one has been cashed for an unspecified amount. The crime apparently occurred at an unknown time on Aug. 24.
Disturbance—10:42 p.m.—1st Street—The caller said a woman and a few men were talking loudly in a driveway near the trailer park. Police unit 207 advised the group to keep the noise down and they said they would comply.
Possible Attempted Burglary—11:24 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller found the screen broken on her window and suspected a possible burglary attempt.
Suspicious Person—11:29 p.m.—Candleberry Avenue—The caller saw a man shining a light into a vehicle. Police unit 206 contacted the caller, but was unable to locate the suspect.
Friday, September 14
Disturbance—4:51 a.m.—Seal Way—The caller said people on the beach were being loud. The caller asked for the police to shut down the party. As of 5:11 a.m., police unit 241 reported that the party was dispersing.
Hazard—7:26 a.m.—12th Street—The caller heard an electrical “pop” sound and saw wires hanging down on her neighbor’s garage. The wires were not sparking and the caller hadn’t heard any more noise. Police unit 107 told dispatch that the wires in question appeared to be cable wires, not a power line. The original caller said she would call her cable company.
Public Works Information—1:16 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller said that the beach showers were stuck in the on position. Message delivered to the Public Works Department.
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.
Grand Theft Report—5:46 p.m.—17th Street—Someone took the caller’s patio furniture, barbecue and a package from UPS sometime between noon and the time of the call to police. The log did not provide information on the value of the stolen property. However, the collective value of the stolen items would have to exceed $950 to qualify as grand theft. Report taken.
Fraud Report—6:31 p.m.—Marvista Avenue—The caller wired approximately $900 to Canada, believing her niece had been arrested and detained in Canada. The caller advised that the suspect had already picked up the money.
This was a variation on the grandchild scam in which a victim receives word that a family member has been arrested in another country and the victim must immediately send money.
The name is derived from the fact that the scammer often impersonates the grandchild of a senior (or a representative of the grandchild) and appeals to the victim’s sense of family loyalty to part the victim from his or her money.
The victim is usually a senior citizen.
Report taken.
Saturday, September 15
Disturbance, Juveniles—12:27 a.m.—Lampson Avenue and Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said skateboarders were using the median on Lampson Avenue in front of the Old Ranch shopping center and almost getting hit by cars.
Lost Property—9:29 a.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller reported losing a wallet containing identification, credit cards, $2,500 cash and business cards. Log entry.
Illegal Peddler—6:56 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a family of four was soliciting patrons for money. The caller phoned back at 7:26 p.m. to report that they were sitting on the curb in front of another location. Then they went inside a business. Police unit 206 advised them against asking people for money and they said they would comply.
Traffic Hazard—8:50 p.m.—Lampson Avenue and Seal Beach Boulevard—A man on a bike was pulling a trailer behind the bike and swerving into the traffic lanes. The caller said the man on the bike almost got hit by a car.
Sunday, September 16
Syringe—4:20 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—A woman stepped on a hypodermic syringe on the beach. She requested paramedics. Lifeguards and paramedics responded. Report taken.
Disturbance, Juveniles—5:57 p.m.—Heather Street—The caller said four boys tried to knock over the Porta Potty in the park.
Barking—7:34 p.m.—1st Street—The caller said a dog was barking on a balcony. The lights were reportedly on inside, leading the caller to believe the dog’s owners were home. However, police unit 207 was unable to locate either the dog or the noise.
Suspicious Occupied Vehicle—8:01 p.m.—11th Street—The caller said an individual was sleeping in a vehicle that had been present for the past eight hours. Police unit 207 interviewed the individual in the field.
IN LOS?ALAMITOS
Thursday, September 20
Disturbance—12:46 a.m. –Katella Avenue—The caller reported a man inside the store acting suspicious. He was yelling at the delivery person and was possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol. He then stood outside the store. Patrol contacted the man, who was advised not to go back into the store at the caller’s request. He left on foot.
Sunday, September 16
Suspicious Person—5:27 a.m. –Katella Avenue – The caller said a man came up to her car window and started yelling at her. The man, 18-20 years old, had possible bloody cuts and bruises on his face. He reached into the caller’s window. The man did not try to grab the caller, or her purse, but the caller did roll her window up. Patrol contacted the caller, who requested extra patrol checks during the evening. The suspect was gone upon arrival.
Saturday, September 15
Disturbance–11:06 a.m.-Bloomfield and Cerritos—The caller said that his sister-in-law was in front of his house, yelling and screaming and was refusing to leave. The woman was upset with the caller over $400 he had borrowed approximately a year ago and not paid back. The woman was advised of trespassing law and told to pursue the matter in civil court to get her money.
IN ROSSMOOR
Tuesday, September 18
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—8:54 a.m.—Chaucer Road and Woodstock Road.
Identity Theft—3:30 p.m.—Rowena Drive.
Welfare Check—9:55 p.m.—Chianti Drive and St. Albans Drive—The caller said his neighbor, who was disabled, was down on his knees on the sidewalk. The disabled man asked the caller to contact the Sheriff’s Department because he needed to get out of there. He was brought back inside the house by his family.
Wednesday, September 19
Burglary Alarm, Audible—2:43 p.m.—A deputy found a woman in the house who said she was the babysitter. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department asked the alarm company to verify her story. The alarm company apparently contacted the homeowner. The woman was the babysitter.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—7:44 p.m.—Foster Road and Kerth Drive.
Thursday, September 20
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—9:50 a.m.—Baskerville Road and Kerth Drive.
Friday, September 21
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—10:31 a.m.—Oak Knoll Drive.
Ted Apodaca of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
