by Liz Mullen
RBPD welfare check finds deceased resident
Redondo Beach Police Department officers making a welfare check requested by concerned family members found a 45-year-old white woman dead in her home in South Redondo on Friday, Aug. 2.
The woman, who lived on the 800 block of South Catalina Avenue, was identified by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner as Jennifer Willems. The Medical Examiner had not determined a cause of death as of press time for this story.
RBPD Capt. Mike Martinez said one of Willems’ family members called RPBD for a welfare check. Officers went to her home at about 1:20 p.m.
“There was no answer at the door,” Martinez said. “They saw that there was mail piled up, so there were enough circumstances for them to gain entry into the house. Once they got in, they found there was someone deceased inside.”
Paramedics were called to pronounce her dead and then the coroner’s office was called, Martinez said.
“There is no danger to the community,” Martinez said. “There were no signs of foul play. There were no signs of a struggle.”
A neighbor posting on the social media site Nextdoor wrote that Willems was a professional woman who lived alone and worked from home. Willems was athletic, running on the beach every day, this neighbor wrote. “So sad.”
Vices lead to thefts
Commercial burglars stole alcohol and cigarettes from a Redondo Beach businesses, and a car burglar made off with official Los Angeles Police Department gear in Redondo Beach last month.
On July 15, a suspect entered an open store on the 1300 block of Pacific Coast Highway and took two bottles of Jack Daniel’s Triple Mash Whiskey, three Modelo beers and five Micheladas and left without paying. The suspect was arrested.
On July 11, a man smashed the locked front door of a closed business and stole a box of Newport cigarettes, as well as a cigarette lighter.
There were 10 vehicle burglaries in Redondo between July 12 and July 20, including one involving a thief stealing official Los Angeles Police Department equipment from an SUV on the 2700 block of Carnegie Lane on July 18.
A 2020 Subaru Ascent SUV was broken into by unknown means and the burglar took an LAPD ballistic helmet, a police baton, a police equipment bag, an LAPD patch with a serial number, 12 gauge shotgun shells and a credit card.
Wrong town for stolen car
On July 25, MBPD was alerted to a stolen car and stopped the car in the area of Aviation and Manhattan Beach Boulevards.
The suspect was on probation, had a felony warrant for vehicle theft, a suspended license and was in possession of drugs. The suspect was arrested and taken to the MBPD jail.
On July 29, a resident on the 300 block of 9th Street called MBPD about a prowler. The resident told officers she saw someone dressed in black, crouching in her backyard.
The homeowner yelled at the suspect and the person ran away while yelling something to someone else in the alley near the home. MBPD’s investigation revealed the prowler had entered the side door to the victim’s garage and was in the process of stealing items before the victim yelled at the suspect. There was no loss of property.
Not so happy joyride
On July 27, a suspect shattered a window of a business with a pipe and attempted to enter the business. But the would-be thief was stopped by witnesses.
When HBPD arrived, the suspect threw the metal pipe at the officer and his squad car and fled on foot. This suspect was arrested.
On July 22, juvenile guests at a residence stole the resident adult’s vehicle and went on a joyride while the adult was asleep.
The juveniles returned the vehicle to the residence, but it was significantly damaged during the joyride.
HBPD officers found and returned to owners: a cell phone and two bicycles. ER
