Seal Beach Police detectives arrested a Norwalk woman on a warrant for stealing more than $287,000 from a Seal Beach Leisure World man on Friday, May 20 at about 11 a.m.
Seal Beach Police Sgt. Steve Bowles said Marisa Robles, 31, was arrested in her Norwalk home.
She is facing 92 separate criminal counts, according to the Orange County Superior Court Web site. “She was fairly cooperative during the investigation,” Bowles said.
According to a Seal Beach Police Department press release, Robles is being accused of forgery, grand theft and elder abuse among the list of over 90 criminal counts. Robles worked for the 81-year-old victim in Leisure World as his caregiver since 2007.
Police say that shortly after she began her employment, she began writing checks to herself totaling $287,848.13 from the victim’s personal bank accounts without his consent. Bowles said the victim apparently trusted Robles to write the checks that needed writing. Bowles said Robles was in the Orange County Jail as of Friday afternoon, May 20.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Web site and the Orange County Superior Court Web site said Robles was in custody as of Monday, May 23.
According to the courthouse Web site, occcourts.org, Robles currently faces 92 counts and sentencing “enhancements” that could add to her sentence in the event she is convicted. The charges include stealing from an elder adult and stealing more than $150,000.
However, Robles has not been tried yet. She was scheduled to be arraigned Monday, May 23. No preliminary hearing has been set in her case. A preliminary hearing will determine if the case goes to trial.
The Seal Beach Police Department continues to work with the elderly community and their families to educate and prevent these types of occurrences.
For more information about elder abuse scams or to report elder abuse, both financial and/or physical, contact the Seal Beach Police.
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Seal Beach Marine Safety report
The following information is provided by the city of Seal Beach Marine Safety (Lifeguard) Department for the week of May 13 to May 19.
Lifeguards performed one rescue, responded to one medical aid call and treated two stingray injuries.
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 May 9, and May 20, 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, May 9
Vandalism—12:23 p.m.—Hazelnut Avenue—The caller went to Seal Beach Police Department headquarters to report that the caller’s home had been egged on Saturday night, May 7. Report taken.
Petty Theft—6:57 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller’s cell phone was stolen from the caller’s vehicles approximately 45 minutes before the call to police. Report taken.
Tuesday, May 10
Police Information—10:32 a.m.—5th Street—The caller said a dog attacked his daughter. The caller did not want police contact, did not want a police report and said no medical attention was needed. Log entry.
Wednesday, May 11
Suspicious Occupied Vehicle—3:42 p.m.—Harvard Lane—The caller reported two Hispanic men in a vehicle had been driving up and down Harvard Lane for the past hour. Police unit 106 contacted the vehicle. The two men were neighbors of the caller. Police unit 106 determined no further police services were necessary.
Welfare Check—4:37 p.m.—Lampson Avenue and Rose Street—The caller said an elderly woman was walking westbound on the north side of the street. The caller was concerned because she didn’t seem to have a destination. Police unit 206 contacted the elderly woman. At 4:59 p.m., the log said her husband had picked her up. Matter solved.
Transient—8:31 p.m.—Catalina Avenue—The caller said a woman who the caller described as a transient was sitting in the caller’s driveway. Police unit 207 contacted a woman matching the description of the individual described as a transient. She was interviewed in the field.
Thursday, May 12
Residential Burglary Report—8:15 a.m.—10th Street—Someone entered the caller’s garage during the night. Loss: a GPS system taken from a vehicle and miscellaneous items taken out of the garage. Report taken.
Vehicle Burglary—1:41 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller reported a theft from a parked vehicle that was apparently witnessed by another person. Loss: the third row seat. The suspect was described as a white man, wearing a tan baseball cap, a dark blue shirt. The suspect and an unseen driver apparently left in a light blue minivan with paper plates. Report taken.
Dead Dolphin—6:58 p.m.—Ocean Avenue and 14th Street—The caller reported a dead dolphin on the beach, near the water line. Referred to Long Beach Animal Care Services.
Friday, May 13
Graffiti/Vandalism—4:51 p.m.—Avalon Drive—The caller reported graffiti on the far trashcan at the far east end of the park. Report taken.
Disturbance, Juveniles—5:19 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said two juveniles were skating near the store. They refused to leave when security asked them to go. Police unit 207 apparently contacted them. They were advised to leave and they said they would comply.
Injured Pelican—4:08 p.m.—Adolfo Lopez Drive and Seal Beach Boulevard—Police unit M7 while on duty observed an injured pelican on the center median north of Adolfo Lopez Drive. Referred to Long Beach Animal Care Services.
Saturday, May 14
Transient—9:09 p.m.—Main Street—The caller reported a man described as a transient camping out on the sidewalk. Police unit 207 contacted the individual and advised the man to leave. He told police he would comply.
Sunday, May 15
Disturbance, Juveniles—2:19 p.m.—Central Avenue and Main Street—Juveniles on skateboards were reportedly racing cars in the traffic lane of Central Avenue.
IN LEISURE WORLD
Wednesday, May 11
Attempted Fraud Report—7:25 a.m.—Homewood Road, Mutual Unknown—A Leisure World resident reported receiving phone calls telling her she had won a lottery. She said she was faxed information indicating that someone would be sent to her house to escort her to the bank for the taxes. Police issued a log item, but apparently there was no crime. She was informed she won a lottery prize. Counseled.
Sunday, May 15
Suspicious Vehicle—5:51 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard, Leisure World Main Gate—The caller reported an unoccupied vehicle in the outbound lanes at the Leisure World Main Gate. Police unit 106 contacted the apparent driver of the vehicle, now on foot. The driver was arrested for public drunkenness. The vehicle was stored.
IN LOS ALAMITOS
Friday, May 13
Disturbance—12:19 p.m.—Cerritos Avenue—Several parents reportedly confronted the caller over parking issues in the school parking lot. The parents were upset that the lot is full and their son was unable to park in that lot. They became belligerent when told that they could not videotape on campus. Police counseled the parents on school policy.
Saturday, May 14
Reckless Driver—10:42 a.m.—Cherry Street and Katella Avenue—The driver of a brown Mercedes reportedly flipped caller off and used profane language to describe her. A second caller witnessed the incident, which appeared to be a case of road rage caused by one driver cutting off the other. The matter was solved when everyone left.
Malicious Mischief to a Vehicle—12:51 p.m.—Pine Street—The caller saw a male teenager loitering next to a van across the street. When the teen walked away, all four tires were flat. The responding officer spoke with residents, who confirmed that their son flattened their van’s tires.
DUI—2:58 p.m.—Farquhar Avenue and Los Alamitos Boulevard—A vehicle was seen weaving in and out of traffic on Los Alamitos Boulevard near Cerritos Avenue. A second caller said it was a case of road rage over a mistaken lane change. One man was arrested.
Monday, May 16
DUI—12:49 p.m.—Farquhar Avenue and Los Alamitos Boulevard—A female driver with a passenger in the front seat was seen swerving on the roadway. Police stopped the vehicle. One woman was arrested.
IN ROSSMOOR
Tuesday, May 17
Citizen Assist—6:28 p.m.—Martha Ann Drive—The caller said her 27-year-old son had taken her father’s money in April and believed the incident constituted elder abuse. An Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputy determined the incident to be a civil matter. No crime report needed.
Wednesday, May 18
Theft Report—1:45 p.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard—The victim was the business Play it Again Sports. A report for Grand Theft was taken, but no further details were available in computer aided dispatch.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—10:32 p.m.—Montecito Road and Shakespeare Drive—A gray vehicle stopped at the stop sign for 5 minutes with high beams and flashers on.
Thursday, May 19
Vandalism Report—1:31 p.m.—Wallingsford Road—Crime occurred in the city of Los Alamitos. Referred to Los Alamitos Police Department.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—4:12 p.m.—Martha Ann Drive—An individual was reported soliciting door to door.
Friday, May 20
Assist Outside Agency—1:55 a.m.——Los Alamitos Boulevard—An individual was detained by law enforcement in front of the Sportsman Bar. The individual was determined to be on formal probation. Deputies went to his Los Alamitos residence to conduct a probation search. Using a police K9 unit, deputies found narcotics. The suspect was booked at the Orange County Jail.
IN SUNSET BEACH
Monday, May 16
Keep the Peace—9:26 a.m.—Pacific Avenue.
Wednesday, May 18
Unknown Trouble—12:11 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway and 9th Street.
Disturbance, Music or Party—9:18 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway.
Thursday, May 19
Till Tap—7:10 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—According Sgt. Rober Gunzel, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, a “till tap refers to a civil injunction ordered by a judge. It involves deputies (assigned to the court division) coming to a business and collecting proceeds from the day’s sales (per court order) generally for restitution purposes from losing a court case.”
Shelley Henderson of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
