Theft of Solar Lights on La Verne Way

Neighbors on La Verne Way had solar lights stolen from their yard last night.  While they can't be sure of the time, the dog next door was reportedly barking at 4 AM, making it the probable time of the theft.

If you have information that might help, please feel free to e-mail.  

We haven't had solar lights stolen before, so this is a bit odd as they're not high dollar items.

Update:  Mystery Explained

Our neighbor found the lights around the corner on another street.  The resident in the home explained that four teenaged girls smoking pot Friday at 2:00 am sitting in his yard had the lights and left them behind.

So, stealing solar lights is apparently a bright idea stoned teenagers come up with.  At least they're back where they belong.  

Burglary, Attempted Burglary

Monday, August 17, 2015:

2500 block of Butano 

A house was broken into today (8/17) sometime between 11:30 AM and 3:30 PM. The front door was kicked in. . As most of you know, this is a very busy street, and this break in occurred in the middle of the day. Very brazen. What a sad state of affairs.

3900 block of Kings way

Today at about  4:30 I heard my doorbell ring, (I was in the garage) so I came in to answer door thinking it was [my spouse] home from work. As I was nearing the front door I heard the door knob "wiggling", again thinking it was my [spouse], so I opened the door to find a young man 18 to 21 yrs. old I would guess. He appeared to have been looking in the window by the front door. When I opened the door he took a couple of steps back and said "Oh I was just dropping this paper off to you."

It was an ad type of paper put out by the Sac Bee and wrapped in pink cellophane. He did not have any other papers that he was carrying, or a bag with more papers to hand out. He handed the paper to me, quickly turned and walked away heading west down Kings Way. His car was black and was parked in front of [a neighbor's] house. He got in the drivers door and quickly drove off continuing west on Kings Way.  

His description: Black male, 5'9" to 6'1", wearing white T shirt and Tan shorts. I could not see his license plate, nor do I know the make of the car.  Sorry. I guess I need to keep my phone on me at all times for photo opportunities. Unfortunately not a lot of detail, but I thought the neighborhood should be aware.

 

I called the Sheriffs non emergency # at 4:41PM to report. They said they would send a patrol. A few minutes later I saw a Sheriffs  SUV K-9 unit go by my house.

[Editor's note:  Never be sorry for not having all the information.  Any report is better than no report so we know it happened, and your safety is far more important than getting a license plate, make or model.  Thanks for what you caught, and we're glad you're safe.]

A similar note from the Sacramento Bee:

Sacramento police warn of burglars posing as utility workers

In the past two weeks, the Sacramento Police Department has received two reports of suspects claiming to be utility employees. Police say the impersonators knock on front doors and tell the occupants that they need access to the home to inspect gas lines....
Police caution residents to never allow anyone inside their home or yard without proper identification, noting that city and utility workers are always identified by department-issued badges. Just because someone is wearing a hard hat or utility vest does not mean the individual is a city or utility worker.

Addressing a Comment

This blog does require moderation for comments.  We had several really good ones that have now been published.  

We had one that needed addressing.  The blog is for reporting so people are aware of what's going on.  It's not for debate, accusations or vitriol.  The comment left me with a great desire to respond, but that's not what this blog is for.

So, what I will say to readers is that the comment left the impression that an angry parent of one of the criminals reported here felt it was the community's attitude that caused their child's criminal behavior rather than poor parenting choices.  

As a parent myself, I would hope if you see any child in my care committing a criminal act, you'd call it into the police and notify the neighborhood watch.  I have a sibling who was coddled, protected and excused.  While I sympathize with my parents' hard choices, the result was a felony conviction.  He's doing much better after the time in prison, but I would suggest that curbing behavior early is a far more effective strategy than defending the criminal actions of a child.

So, to the reader who left the comment, please, if you're aware of a crime committed report it for your child's sake and for the community's sake.  You'll notice that we treat all of our neighbors who aren't committing crimes with respect, kindness and friendliness.  It's a great community.  We'd just like to keep it that way, and we need your help to do it.

Older Items

My apologies for being focused elsewhere for a while.  I'm going to post some older items and then proceed to a newer burglary.

Directly from Chuck, June 29, 2015:

there have been several crimes, that occurred in the neighborhood. 

the morning after I posted the last alert, a resident in the 3800 block of kings way, sometime between, 9, and 11 am, had their house burglarized. the crook, entered thru, an unlocked gate, (and out of the view of any "people walking by"), was able to gain access to the house through the sliding glass door. items stolen, were "electronics, and (I think jewelry)", three days later, at   the "vacant" house, next door, an "alert" parent, noticed some suspicious activity, (while chaperoning a field trip for DPM students), the sheriff dept, was called, and responded. (unknown, is the result... but the "suspicious persons, (male, and female), were seen earlier, at the house, at 2612 butano)

5 weeks ago, a house, on barbarell, had to bicycles, stolen, from the side of their house. the bicycles, were "avenger" "hybrid" bicycles, and were outside, their fence, near, the garbage cans.... (this happened, on a "recycling" pick-up night)

on mother's day weekend, a resident, had his truck "burglarized", at around 530am... the owner, heard the theft, and went outside, where a neighbor, assisted, in distracting the "victim", while he recovered his tools... the thief, drove a vehicle, similar, to the one, in picture #1... same body style, and blue color, but it had a "white stripe", running thru the center of the truck, (not on the lower end, like this one),, no license info, was collected.

this couple, (homeless).. recorded in this video,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_pO6vNMF2Q&feature=youtu.be   have been observed, "casing" houses, and also, taking notes".. they traverse thru the neighborhood, with recyclables, towards the el camino/watt, recycling center.  IF THEY ARE JUST MOVING THRU THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WITH "RECYCLABLES", THIS IS NOT A CRIME, BUT IF YOU "OBSERVE" THEM,LOOKING INTO HOUSES, AND TAKING NOTES!, (GET A DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTEBOOK, (SIZE, COLOR OF THE COVER, ETC), CALL THE SHERIFF, DEPT, WITH THIS INFO. THIS CAN BE "POSSIBLY" PROSECUTED, AS CONSPIRACY"!  pictures 2, 3, and 4, are of this couple, and their are other associates)

(btw, they haven't been seen since photographed, a little over a week ago.)

the next picture, is of a person, wanted by the California dept of Corrections, (parole div)

this person, Aaron Stassi, used to live in the 2800 block of Ione st, and is suspected of burglary, in the DPM area... (and obviously, "parole violation)... if you see him

contact ron, dunne, at 916-267-0091

and another recent development, where a small red Nissan P/U, with an "a's" logo, in the passenger side, rear window, has been seen in different parts of the neighborhood, the sheriff, was called, and had contact, with this individual, near, Marconi ave, and la paz, but was seen several days later, parked, in the 2600 block, of Andrade, and the individual, apparently has contact, with, the 2612 butano house

Directly from Chuck, May 29, 2015:

I finally have talked to all the reported victims, and have compiled the below information;

 

 

several vehicle breakin's have occurred in the last several weeks, on the sat/sun leading into mother's day, a window smash happened on on la paz, where the thief, took what was visible, and randsacked the glove box, (never opening the door), and stole a bag containing "sensitive" documnets, (that were to be shredded). in a similar incident, on duran cir, (around the corner), a neighbor had their window smashed and a backpack stolen. the suspect, apparently crossed the street, and was caught on camera, looking into the window, of a car, (nothing was stolen, apparently nothing was visible in the vehicle).

and another vehicle, (that was unlocked), had the interior "ransacked", but nothing reportedly stolen. and the second picture, is of the same, or similarly dressed person, looking into the window of a vehicle on Lapaz.

On lasuen, (3900 block), the same night, a neighbor's vehicle, (parked on the street), had it's window smashed.. but nothing  reportedly was missing.

at around 130 am, on the 17th, another vehicle burglary, occurred in the 3800 block of lasuen, where a backpack, purse, tripod, and other things were stolen. a "wing window", was broken, and the thief, opened all doors, and the trunk.

On, the same night, at the corner of lasuen, and kings way, a neighbor had his rear passenger, cargo window smashed, and a subwoofer stolen... (no doors were opened, and a towel was left, draped over the opening), this occurred around 330am, and the neighbor reported that an older toyota tercel, (possibly grey in color), left the area.

 

the method of operation on all, but the 3900 lasuen, appear to be the same person, or persons, as they seem to avoid setting off "entry" alarms.

 

PLEASE!! DO NOT LEAVE ITEMS IN YOUR VEHICLES!

Minor Format Change

I've updated the format with the intent to provide a bit more space for text and perhaps to make posts easier to read.  I hope you like it!

Several Events

My sincere apologies for posting delays.  Issues arose that prevent posting for a while.

Daylight Burglary, June 12th on Lapaz Drive

Between 9:00 and 9:30 AM, a burglar jumped a fence, cut a screen to open a window and entered a house.  A lookout posing as a vacuum cleaner demonstrator walked from house to house on the block.

The lookout was described as a cleanly dressed black male adult wearing a white shirt, dark jeans, and white shoes. (resembling Kobe Bryant according to the witness).  The lookout walked from house to house, skipping houses that had cars in the driveway (behavior consistent with casing houses).  A resident noted that the lookout appeared to be texting, probably keeping the burglar updated.  The lookout went to the victim's door and was admitted by the burglar.  The resident witnessing this called 911, and the Sheriff's department responded with a few minutes.  

During this time, a plumb-colored sports car had parked in front of the house.  The resident didn't see anyone enter the vehicle, but heard it drive away prior to the sheriff's arrival.  The Sheriff's department set up a perimeter and sent in their k-9 unit.  The burglars had left with a TV.  They had also staged a pillowcase with jewelry in it under the couch.  Crime scene investigators came to take fingerprints.

Chuck's Advice:

While you don't need to answer the door for solicitors, be sure to call through the door that you're not interested.  Most burglars aren't looking for confrontation and will move on.  Exchange best contact numbers with neighbors you trust so you can keep each other updated if something does happen.  Lock your gates and use double cylinder deadbolts on your front doors.  Other helpful devices include motion sensing lights, driveway alarms and other products designed to protect your home, but nothing can replace an alert neighbor willing to call the police to report suspicious activity or a crime in progress.

Solicitors, 3800 Block of Duran Circle, June 9th

From a resident:  A woman in a red shirt with dirty brown hair in a pony tail knocked on our door to ask if our car was for sale.   We do we have a for sale sign on a car and she looked a bit rough,  so we were suspicious.  She went back to her champagne colored car, perhaps a Toyota, driven by a man with a young child in the back and drove off, turning right onto La Paz from Duran Circle.  I stood at the window with my camera phone trying to get a photo but I didn't.  They did see me doing that though.

Recycling Thieves, 2500 Block of Cambon, June 9th

The below photo is a picture of a van with two African Americans, female driver and the male that goes through your garbage and recycle.  I have seen them around this area for over a year now on recycle day.  It is a dark green van, when he is confronted he runs and jumps in the sliding door.  They drive around with the door open so he can get in and out quickly.

 If that picture looks familiar, it should.  We have a better photograph of the van from in this post (linked here). 

Remember to call the Sheriff's Department non-emergency number.  Stealing recycling is a crime.  From the other post, the van's license plate appears to be 5WVP982.  Give it to the Sheriff's department.  Even if these people have fled, they can be caught.  A pullover would probably keep them out of our neighborhood in the future.

Why do we care?  There's a reminder of why it's important to report this in this previous post.

Neighboring Area

Drive By Shooting

From a friend who lives on Whitney near Becerra -

Tuesday 5/27 around 2:20 p.m.

While returning home this afternoon from a quick bike trip for some shed parts at Emigh Hardware, I nearly became involved in a drive by shooting at the corner of Watt and Whitney.

A BMW SUV was being chased South bound on Watt Ave. by at least two men in a white sedan. The BMW pulled into the corner 7-11, the sedan followed and fired off 4 shots into the driver's side door, window, and rear tire, then sped off Eastbound on Whitney Avenue, right past my place!

Daytime Home Burglary 07-12-2014 9AM (2800 Block La Paz Way)

One suspect (Tall, thin, African American, late twenties dressed in white shirt, levis, white shoes) came to the neighborhood going door to door.  One lady had answered her door and the guy said he was a vacuum salesman.  He walked by a few more houses knocking, but skipped houses with cars in the driveway and when there was no answer on one went into the backyard.  Even though there was a dog present the suspect gained access through a window where he then opened the front door for another individual.  The car that was used was a Plum colored sedan with tinted windows.  Sacramento Sheriff officers arrived within minutes after the suspects left.

(Thank you to the concerned neighbor for sending this in, sorry for the delay in posting--I was out of town and it wouldn't post from my phone.)