In a regional enforcement campaign, traffic officers from the Seal Beach, Los Alamitos and Cypress police departments will “Team Up to Crackdown” on distracted driving.
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and motorcycle officers from each department will conduct joint saturation enforcement activities in all three cities on April 26, 27, and 28.
In 2009, according national statistics, 5,474 people were killed on U.S. roadways and an estimated 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes that were reported to have involved distracted driving.
Of those people killed in distracted driving-related crashes that year, 995 involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines “distraction” as a specific type of inattention that occurs when drivers divert their attention from driving to focusing on some other activity. The use of wireless devices represents the number one source of driver inattention.
“Statewide, the California Highway Patrol issues approximately 10,000 citations a month to motorists who insist upon using a wireless device while driving, said Capt. Bruce McAlpine of the Los Alamitos Police Department. “It is a serious concern for law enforcement officials everywhere. Keeping people safe on our roadways is a top priority. Hopefully, our efforts will not only educate our community members but also help save lives.”
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 April 4 and April 15, 2011.
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, April 4
Found Property—3:16 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The beach crew found something that appeared to be a funeral urn on the beach and turned it in to police. Report taken.
Wednesday, April 6
Animal Information—10:80 a.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller reported the dead opossum on Ocean Avenue. Referred to Long Beach Animal Care Services.
Whale Sighting—1:19 p.m.—B Row, Surfside Colony—A citizen reported that a whale appeared to be beaching itself in front of the Surfside Colony.
A whale rescue organization was apparently present. According to the dispatch log, someone told the officer assigned to police unit 107 that California gray whales prefer shallow waters for feeding and cleaning during their migration. At 1:46 p.m., unit 107 told dispatch the whale was about 100 yards out from the beach. Police unit 107 continued to monitor the situation. At 1:59 p.m., the log recorded the conclusion to the story: the whale had moved on.
Thursday, April 7
Bike Theft—8:34 a.m.—1st Street—The caller reported the theft of a blue, 15-speed Diamondback Bike. The bike wa apparently taken sometime between Monday afternoon, April 4, and Tuesday evening, April 5. The bike was valued at $600.
Counseling—9:56 a.m.—11th Street—A citizen reported receiving calls from an “agency” in Sacramento that said he had won a Mercedes Benz and $1 million cash.
Bike Theft—5:05 p.m.—Electric Avenue—Someone stole a red bike from the carport at about 3:30 p.m. The bike was valued at $700.
Friday, April 8
Malicious Mischief—5:43 p.m.—Coastline Drive—The caller found screws in her car tires on two separate occasions. The incidents occurred over the past two days. Report taken.
Saturday, April 9
Malicious Mischief—5:19 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—Someone keyed the passenger side of the caller’s care. The crime apparently occurred between 5 and 5:05 p.m. Report taken.
Police Information—6:20 p.m.—Lampson Avenue and Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller reported that someone might have been shining a red light at vehicles at the intersection at 2 p.m. that day. The caller didn’t know where the light was coming from. The incident was logged in case police received other reports of the incident.
IN LEISURE WORLD
Tuesday, April 5
Identity Theft Report—10:13 a.m.—Brookline Drive, Mutual 9—A Leisure World woman attempted to file taxes on Monday, April 5, only to learn someone else had filed taxes under her name and Social Security Number. Report taken.
Grand Theft—2:02 p.m.—Wentworth Lane, Mutual 5—The caller reported the theft of a ring valued at $19,500.
Wednesday, April 6
Vehicle Burglary—8:59 a.m.—Spinnaker Way, Mutual 2—Someone used a drill on the lock of the caller’s van sometime during the night. Loss: a pressure washer and a generator valued at more than $4,000. Report taken.
Thursday, April 7
Burglary Report—10:45 a.m.—Interlachen Road, Mutual Unknown—Someone entered the caller’s home through an unlocked bedroom window. The residence was ransacked. Loss: silverware described as antique, jewelry and tools. Report taken.
Fire—8:07 p.m.—Annandale Drive, Mutual 1—The caller reported a fire in the oven. The caller got everyone out of the unit. The Orange County Fire Authority responded. The fire was out by 8:15 p.m.
Saturday, April 9
Counseling—3:25 p.m.—Interlachen Road, Mutual Unknown—The caller asked Seal Beach Police to contact her mother, a Leisure World resident. A company promised her mother $18 million if she sent them money. She sent them $300. Now the company wanted another $815. The caller said her mother does not believe this is a scam and the caller was concerned her mother would continue to send money to the con artists.
IN LOS ALAMITOS
Friday, April 8
Pedestrian Check—2:12 p.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard—A woman was arrested on unspecified warrants from the Santa Monica Police Department.
Saturday, April 9
Disturbance—3:16 a.m.—Green Avenue—The caller complained about a party. By the time Los Alamitos Police officers arrived, the hosts were going to sleep.
Sunday, April 10
Malicious Mischief to a Vehicle—Farquhar Avenue—3:05 p.m.—The crime apparently occurred overnight. Someone slashed two tires of caller’s black SUV.
Monday, April 11
Graffiti—7:28 p.m.—Thor Avenue—A citizen called from work to relay a second-hand report of vandalism. The caller’s son was at home and said someone put swastikas on garage windows. The caller requested that an officer contact his son. The responding officer found two swatikas drawn in the dirt on two small garage door windows. There was no permanent damage to the property. The family is not Jewish.
Wednesday, April 13
Trash Digger—5:57 a.m.—Farquhar Avenue—In alley to rear of building, trash diggers attempted to get recycleables. They were now leaving the area.
IN ROSSMOOR
Monday, April 11
Abandoned Vehicle—12:59 p.m.—Rowena Drive.
Wednesday, April 13
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—8:40 a.m.—Kensington Road.
Disturbance, Family Dispute—4:28 p.m.—Oak Grove Road.
Thursday, April 14
Burglary in Progress—7:33 a.m.—Channing Way and Foster Road.
Vandalism Report—12:33 p.m.—Bradbury Road.
Friday, April 15
Burglary Report—4:34 a.m.—Wembley Road.
Burglary Report—6:52 a.m.—Donnie Ann Road.
IN SUNSET BEACH
Monday, April 11
Assault—5:39 p.m.—Pacific Avenue.
Tuesday, April 12
Disturbance, Music or Party—10:14 p.m.—2nd Street.
Shelley Henderson of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
