Santa Monica police arrested a 44-year-old LA man on Saturday, July 27 after two European tourists caught him trying to steal their bicycles.
At 3:38 pm officers of the Santa Monica Police Department received a radio call informing them that there was a fight in the 1000 block of Bay Street.
When the officers arrived they met with the two victims who happened to be tourists from Europe.
The tourists told the officers that they had noticed someone tampering with their bicycles that had been locked up.
They added that they had run back and approached this person and discovered that the person was carrying a pair of wire cutters and that the cable from their lock had been cut.
They said that at that point this person had attempted to depart, but with the assistance of another friend they had been able to detain the person until the officers arrived.
Based upon the evidence, as well as the statement of an eyewitness, the officers arrested the person.
They officers also searched the suspect and discovered the wire cutters as well as other tools of the burglary trade.
This LA man was charged with grand theft, possession of burglary tools, and a probation violation.
Bail was not granted.
Editor’s Note: These reports are part of a regular police coverage series entitled “Alert Police Blotter” (APB), which injects some minor editorial into certain police activities in Santa Monica. Not all of the Mirror’s coverage of incidents involving police are portrayed in this manner.
