Thefts in the Neighborhood

I apologize for my tardy updates. Every incident report matters!

November 5th, Stroller Stolen

From a home in the 2400 block of Cathay, a "bob jogger" twin stroller. This stroller is a $600 item and was taken from the front yard. It is navy blue in color. If you notice one for sale locally, contact the sheriff dept, or email the victims. (E-mail address available on request).



November 7th, Front Yard Items Stolen

From the 2800 block of Ione Street near Marconi on Saturday night, November 7th, a wooden hutch like decor as well as a three wheel metal/plant holder was stolen from the front porch. While it wasn’t worth a lot of money, I thought that I would pass it along to you.

November 12th, Various Items

Yesterday (Veterans Day Nov 11) a sheriff knocked at my door at 7:15am saying a jogger reported that a black man dressed as a jogger jumped my fence and they were here to look around my back yard. (3700 block of Duran Cir) They did not find anyone. But, if you live in the neighborhood and were jogging and reported the activity to the police, thank you so much!

But then this morning at 6:15 am my doorbell rang. By the time I got there, no one was there; there were wet foot prints on my front porch (looked like tennis shoes). The only thing I saw was a Housekeeping business card, don’t know if someone was dropping off the card and ringing my doorbell, or if someone was doorbell ditching. Either way, it’s weird. Within a few minutes I saw a man (looked to be white) walking in dark clothes and tennis shoes with a red hat on…don’t know if he was dropping off the housekeeping cards, or just walking, but he had tennis shoes on and that is what the shoe prints on my porch looked like.

This is the first time in 3 years of living here that I have had anything strange and it’s been twice in two days.

Did anyone else get an early morning doorbell ring, along with a business card?

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Yes, I saw a Hispanic lady placing housekeeping cards on doors yesterday morning. (Alamitos)

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Hello, something was also stolen from our front porch. We live on the 3900 block of Kings Way and someone stole our American Flag. The flag was put up by my husband and his combat brother who served in Iraq with him. It is irreplaceable. If you see anyone on our porch feel free to slap them then direct them to the nearest recruiting station in hopes they may learn respect for something greater than themselves.

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We live on the 3900 block of Kings Way. Our RV is kept on a pad at the top of our driveway, next to our house. Thieves accessed our RV roof mounted solar panel, cut the wires, and stole the panel. This strikes me as particularly aggressive because it was done on an RV roof 10 feet high, in a well lit area, on a well traveled street.

I missed the neighborhood meeting that discussed the possibility of hiring a security patrol vehicle. We would certainly pay our share for this necessary safety precaution.

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The RV roof solar panel was stolen from 3900 Block of Kings Way, and will cost over $1,000 to replace. If anyone has any information on its whereabouts, or the perpetrator , please let me know.

Thanks.

Adrienne

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Remember to be vigilant and report things out of the ordinary. Thank you to the jogger who called in the man dressed in black! A police presence in the neighborhood is a very good thing, even briefly. Criminals will know we watch and call the police.

Stolen Vehicle

Late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, a 90's teal colored, 2dr Honda Accord was stolen from the 2700 block of Butano, (the court). License number to follow. It has a straightened coat hanger as an antenna. If you see this car, call 911 (CHP) and report it, or you can call Nina Mills (number available on request).

Census Workers

WARNING: 2010 Census Cautions from the Better Business Bureau
2010 Census Cautions
by Susan Johnson August 3, 2009
Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers

With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.

The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:

If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don’t know into your home.

Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census... While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, the Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers nor will employees solicit donations.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census.

Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit www.bbb.org.

Residential Burglaries in the Area

From Chuck:

I was informed by a mailman that delivers on Edison at Norris, that there have been two (known) residential burglaries in that vicinity (near Mira Loma High) that involved the theft of firearms. In one burglary, only one handgun was stolen, but in the second one many firearms were stolen. In the words of the homeowner, "armfuls" were taken, (primarily rifles and shotguns). It is unknown how criminals got in (I forgot to ask), but it is apparent that the guns were not secured in a safe.

If you monitor the Sheriff Department Cyberwatch (http://crimemap.sacsheriff.com/cyberwatch), then you might notice more reports of residential burglaries. It is upsetting to lose property to intruding thieves, but a loss of a firearm puts a whole new perspective to the crime. Now some brazen person has an instrument that can maim or kill another human being. In this day and age we all feel the need to protect ourselves and property from those who might want to take it from us, but secure your firearms so that no one can get them without a lot of work, especially when you are not home (because usually if they want them and they have the time, they will get them).

Note: Chuck makes a lot of good points. As an added point, please do remember that it isn't lawful in California to defend property using lethal force. You can only do so if you fear imminent danger of death or great bodily injury to yourself or another person and you are acting to stop that immediate threat. We don't want any of the good guys ending up on the wrong side of a cell door! If there is interest, I would be happy to post more information on lawful firearms ownership in our State.

Church Break-In

From Chuck:

I learned that either Wednesday or Thursday night of last week, the Town and Country Lutheran Church, (Marconi and Norris), was broken into and that 7 flat screen TV's were stolen, and "some meat" from the kitchen. The criminals apparently entered the grounds by cutting through the fence on the west side, from the Amber Grove Apartments. They broke locks and were able to get into the buildings where the equipment was.

Neighborhood Protection Meeting

On Tuesday 22 Sep 2009 at 7 pm, there will be a meeting at the AT&T building located at the corner of Watt and Kings Way, (follow the signs). This is a Home Owners Association meeting, but all are invited to attend, because it involves the security of our neighborhood.

We will be discussing, among other things, the proposal to hire a security patrol for our neighborhood. This will come at a cost, and all that are willing to get involved are strongly encouraged to help. If you are part of this network, and your neighbor is not, please inform them of this meeting. Employees of the Sheriff Dept. will be present, and answer questions.

DPM 3700 Block Kings Way Attempted Break in SUSPECT CAUGHT!

Hi Chuck! Around 10:30-11:00 on September 9th I heard somebody trying to break in my back door, exact same thing as last time, except this time I saw the man. I called 911 and just by the grace of god there was a unit already at the corner of Watt and El Camino, they arrived in 2 minutes , No one was in our yard but they found the suspect running away from my house down Duran. The police called me up to drive to their location and identify the man, The man they had was indeed the man I saw in my back yard I was sure of this by several distinct items he was wearing including dark hat with white rim, rolled up jeans and white and black shoes. The man they caught is on (probation or parole I forget which they said) and a wrap sheet ,according to the police, a mile long with BURGLARIES. I believe this is the same man that attempted to break in a few weeks ago because he used the exact same tactic. CSI is currently on their way over to take fingerprints and photos, The suspect has been arrested for violation of (probation/parole) and attempted burglary.