Police Beat: MB smash and grabs, hit and run, and van with stolen good
By Liz Mullen
Manhattan businesses victims of smash and grabs
The Arco Station on Manhattan Beach. Boulevard and the AT&T Store on Sepulveda Boulevard in Manhattan Beach were both hit by smash-and-grab thieves earlier this month.
On March 4, at about 5 a.m. Manhattan Beach Police Department officers were called to the Arco Station on the 1000 block of Manhattan Beach Boulevard. An employee reported that when she arrived for work the front door was smashed and Scratcher lottery tickets were stolen.
The next day, on March 5, at about 3:45 a.m. MBPD officers responded to a commercial burglary report at the AT&T Store on the 1100 block of north Sepulveda Boulevard. A witness said she observed a male smash the glass of the store.It was later discovered that a cell phone, smart watches and an iPad were stolen.
As previously reported, the BevMo was on Rosecrans in Manhattan Beach was hit by early morning smash and grabbers four times in February. The MBPD arrested four suspects after a freeway chase that ended in Inglewood after the fourth BevMo smash and grab.
There were 48 crime reports taken in Manhattan Beach for the week of Feb. 29 through March 6, including eight for assault, two for auto theft, three for commercial burglary, one for residential burglary, one for vandalism and one for vehicle burglary.
Hit and runs hit Hermosa Beach
The Hermosa Beach Police Department is investigating four hit and run crimes with property damage that were reported in the city the week of Feb. 25 through March 2.
The hit and runs occurred at Prospect and 8th Street, the 1500 block of Pacific Coast Highway, the 00 block of 13th Street, and on the 200 block of Hermosa Avenue.
The HBPD is also investigating three residential burglaries, one involving a stolen bicycle, the second involving stolen jewelry and the third in which a skateboard, a bicycle and a handgun were reported stolen.
The HBPD is also investigating a fraud case in which an employee of a company received a text from someone who identified themselves as an executive of that company. The self-described executive texter asked the employee to buy gift cards, which the employee did. The employee later learned the text was not from an executive of the company.
The HBPD found and returned to the owners two wallets and a check.
Residents tip leads HBPD to stop van with stolen goods
Hermosa Beach Police Department officers arrested a suspect who was charged by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office with four counts of residential burglary, one count of grand theft and one count of lying to the police.
Officers were told of a distinctive looking van that a resident said may have been involved in the theft of an electric vehicle, HBPD Chief Paul LeBaron told the Hermosa city council late last month. Officers were on the lookout for the van and saw it at about 4:30 a.m. on Feb. 21, LeBaron said.
The HBPD officers found other stolen property, including a motorcycle. With the help of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office they were able to retrieve the electric vehicle from where it was stored — outside of the city, LeBaron said.
“Detectives were able to identify six victims in our city who were victimized by the suspect,” the Chief told the City Council. “What are the takeaways from this investigation? First, we see, once again, how one person can be the source of many crimes.
“Oftentimes we receive multiple reports during a weeklong period of burglaries and it’s easy to assume multiple people are committing these crimes,” LeBaron said. “However, we know that a single criminal who goes unchecked can victimize many people in a community like Hermosa Beach. It is imperative that our community call 911 when they see something unusual, because that one phone call could prevent many people from becoming victims of crime.” ER