by Liz Mullin
Burglars caught at empty homes
Manhattan Beach Police Department officers foiled attempted burglaries at three different residences in the city during the week of April 11 through April 17.
In each case, the homeowners were not at home.
On April 12, MBPD officers responded to a report of a person checking doors at a vacant residence. A suspect was detained by police in front of the 2500 block of The Strand.
The suspect told police he recently purchased the property. However, MBPD officers were able to contact the actual homeowner who told them the suspect did not have permission to be on the property.
Meanwhile, the officers found out the suspect was on probation for robbery and assault likely to produce great bodily harm. The suspect was arrested for loitering to commit a crime.
On April 14, MBPD officers were dispatched to a report of a possible burglary in progress at a home for sale in the 400 block of Second Street. Upon arriving, officers saw a male suspect trying to leave the property by climbing into a neighbor’s yard. Officers were able to detain the male suspect.
MBPD officers also detained a female suspect who was trying to leave the residence. An investigation revealed the pair had burglarized the residence. Both were arrested on multiple charges.
On April 16, MBPD officers responded to another report of a possible burglary in progress, this time on the 1600 block of First Street. They found and detained a person exiting the residence. The person, who had entered the residence through a sliding glass door that was left open, told officers he was looking for a place to live. The officers took the person for a mental health evaluation.
Target targeted
On April 12, a suspect stole items from the Target store at 1200 N. Sepulveda Boulevard and pushed the store’s loss prevention employee who was trying to stop the suspect. The suspect drove away.
A neighboring police agency was able to pull the suspect over. Upon positive identification from the Target loss prevention employee, the suspect was arrested.
There were 48 crime reports taken for the week of April 11 through April 17 in Manhattan Beach, including one for auto theft, one for robbery, two for residential burglary, two for vehicle burglary, nine for theft and one for vandalism.
Good Samaritans hard to tell
Two suspects asked a person for directions and water, placed a ring on the good samaritan’s finger and drove away on the 100 block of 19th street in Hermosa Beach on April 6. After they were gone, the victim noticed that they had stolen a valuable ring off their finger.
An apparently actual good samaritan took an electric bicycle that was unlocked and parked in front of a store on the 2500 block of Pacific Coast Highway. The person returned the bike to the owner, explaining they took it for safekeeping when they found it unlocked.
Hermosa Beach Police Department officers arrested four people in two different traffic stops during the week of March 31 through April 6.
A vehicle was stopped on Artesia Boulevard on April 1st and HBPD officers found the driver was on probation for burglary. A search of the vehicle found two purses.
One purse contained controlled substances without a prescription and a stun gun that was owned by a felon. The other purse contained various controlled substances. Both the driver and passenger were arrested.
HBPD officers made a traffic stop on Pacific Coast Highway and Pier Avenue on April 6. The passenger gave a false name to officers, but was found in possession of an actual driver’s license. The passenger had outstanding warrants. The driver also had a misdemeanor warrant. Both were arrested.
SUV stolen in Redondo, found in Hermosa
Three SUVs were stolen in Redondo Beach in late March. Two of them were recovered nearby.
A 2001 Chevy suburban SUV was stolen from Artesia Boulevard on March 26. A 2017 Jeep Cherokee SUV was stolen from the 900 block of PCH on March 27. And a 2022 GMC Yukon SUV was stolen from Graham Avenue on March 28.
The GMC SUV and the Jeep SUV were both recovered. The GMC Yukon SUV was found in Redondo Beach. The Jeep Cherokee SUV was recovered in Hermosa Beach.
There was also an attempt to steal a 2018 Hyundai electric car on the corner of Green Lane and Nelson Avenue. The suspect punched the lock on the driver side door on that car, but was unsuccessful in stealing it.
There was a robbery in an open store on Inglewood Avenue on March 31. The suspect entered the store, took laundry detergent off the shelves and put them in his backpack. When the suspect was confronted by a female employee, he yelled at her and knocked items off the shelves. The suspect threw a wine bottle at the employee and left the store without paying for the items.
A residence on the 1300 block of Flagler Lane was burglarized on March 29. Entry was made into the residence by unknown means and jewelry was stolen.
Redondo Beach Police Department officers arrested two suspects who they observed looking into vehicles with flashlights on March 30 near the corner of Camino De La Costa and Paseo de la Playa. The suspects had burglary tools in their vehicle. ER
