Two men were walking in Old Town Seal Beach when they were robbed at gunpoint Saturday night, Feb. 20. The crime was reported to the police at about 11:45 p.m.
It was at least the second armed robbery in Seal Beach in a week.
According to the Seal Beach Police Department, the victims were walking on Central Avenue near 4th Street when two African American men in their 20s, both armed with semi-automatic handguns, approached them.
The victims gave their personal possessions to the thugs.
The victims were not physically injured during the robbery.
The suspects wore dark pants and dark, hooded jackets or sweatshirts.
The previous, apparently unrelated, robbery occurred at Wednesday night, Feb. 17, when a Hispanic man robbed a Starbucks coffee shop at 2311 Seal Beach Blvd.
The man entered the Starbucks, forced the employees to get on the floor and took an unknown amount of money from the cash register. He apparently fled on foot. The suspect in the Starbucks robbery was described as 37-50 years old, 6 feet, weighing 200-250 pounds, with dark or black colored hair, a mustache, wearing a dark watch cap, denim shirt and black pants.
Both cases are being investigated by Detective Gary Krogman. Anyone with information about either the Old Town mugging or the Starbucks robbery should call Krogman at (562) 799-4100, extension 1108.
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. 8 and Feb. 20, 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, February 8
Suspicious Occupied Vehicle—4:49 a.m.—1st Street and Central Way—The caller said a black SUV was parked at Central Way and Second Street. The driver was a man. At 4:52 a.m., the caller said the vehicle was following the caller. Police determined the SUV was delivering newspapers.
Tuesday, February 9
Vehicle Burglary—10:22 a.m.—Electric Avenue—Loss: a backpack with $400 worth of books and equipment inside. Point of entry: a smashed passenger side window. The crime apparently occurred between 11 p.m., Monday, Feb. 8 and 8 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 9.
Wednesday, February 10
Dead Animal—4:23 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway and Seal Beach Boulevard—While on service, police unit 113 observed a dead skunk in the southbound lane of Pacific Coast Highway, south of Seal Beach Boulevard. Referred to Long Beach Animal Care Services.
Thursday, February 11
Transients—8:24 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller said three white men in their mid 40s were in front of the store. They had sleeping bags with them. Two of them asked the caller for money. The first was described as having brown, shoulder length hair and wearing a blue jacket and jeans. The second man had short hair of an unspecified color on his head and facial hair. He wore a T-shirt and jeans cut off to the knees. The third man was thin, about 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighed approximately 175 pounds. He had a long, trimmed beard. He wore a jacket and jeans. Police interviewed the three men in the field and sent them on their way. The names of the men were blacked out in the dispatch log.
Friday, February 12
Disturbance—8:14 p.m.—Coastline Drive—The caller said three juveniles were walking up to residences, knocking on the doors and then running off. At 8:31 p.m., the same caller spied the juveniles on Driftwood Avenue. The juveniles were contacted by police unit 123. They were counseled about their behavior.
Saturday, February 13
Vandalism—4:38 p.m.—Electric Avenue—The caller said three people, two boys and one girl, were writing on the sidewalk. The juveniles were described as 15 to 16 years old.
The boy was described as white, wearing a red bathing suit. One of the girls was described as white, wearing a dark afro haircut and a dark dress. They were in the parking lot next to the Mary Wilson Library.
Sunday, February 14
Petty Theft—8:59 a.m.—Electric Avenue—Basketball hoop was taken. Value: unknown. According to the caller, there was vandalism in the area where the hoop had been located.
IN LOS ALAMITOS
Monday, February 15
Disturbance, Party—12:25 a.m.—Paseo Bonita—The caller complained about loud music in the area. Officers broke up a gathering.
Tuesday, February 16
Transient—12:34 a.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard—An individual in the intersection was trying to stop traffic and talk to subjects. Officers spoke with the man and advised him to discontinue his behavior.
Wednesday, February 17
Suspicious Occupied Vehicle—9:25 a.m.—Shasta Avenue—The caller said three juveniles were sitting in a vehicle in front of a neighbor’s house.
Thursday, February 18
Found Person—4:48 p.m.—Farnham Avenue—An elderly person appeared to be lost. The individual was assisted.
Friday, February 19
Disturbance Subjects—1:19 p.m.—Chestnut Street—An individual was yelling and screaming while walking up and down the street.
Saturday, February 20
Citizen Assist—4:17 p.m.—Maple Street—An individual reportedly completed a job and was not paid for it. That person was counseled.
Sunday, February 21
Road Rage—6:51 p.m.—Lampson Avenue—A citizen was followed into a park and blocked in. Another suspect threatened the citizen. The citizen got out pepper spray and the other suspect threatened the citizen, saying he was going to get him. The citizen was counseled.
IN ROSSMOOR
Monday, February 15
Shots Heard—6:01 p.m.— Harrisburg Road— Deputies discovered a juvenile playing with fireworks. The juvenile was detained and released to a parent.
Tuesday, February 16
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—11:23 p.m.—Kempton Drive— Deputies detained an individual who turned out to be a security guard for the apartment complex across the street.
Wednesday, February 17
Burglary Report—9:38 a.m.—Bostonian Drive—There was no burglary, according to Sgt. Rob Gunzel of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s North patrol Bureau. No further details were available.
Thursday, February 18
Burglary Report—3:55 p.m.—Bostonian Drive—Deputies took a report. However, no details were available.
Saturday, February 20
Vandalism in Progress—10:51 p.m.—Copa D’Oro Drive—A deputy found that a carload of juveniles were spraying the area with paintballs. They were detained and released to their parents.
IN SUNSET BEACH
Thursday, February 18
Unknown Trouble—9:02 a.m.—S. Pacific Avenue and 21st Street— Deputies detained an individual and completed a field interview.
Saturday, February 20
Identity Theft—9:57 p.m.—24th Street— Report taken.
Brian Smith of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
